Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed this Friday that Israel is vulnerable and confused, arguing that without U.S. backing it would be silenced in a matter of days. He used his social media presence on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to express the point, asserting that the Israeli state relies on American support to retain any leverage in the region. The comment came amid heightened regional tensions following Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, an assault that resulted in more than 1,400 Israeli fatalities and led to the capture of more than 240 hostages. Khamenei’s remarks framed the situation as one in which Israel’s military posture is unsustainable without continued external support. The leader described Israel as an invading entity that has become helpless and confused in the face of what he characterized as relentless resistance. He also asserted that Israeli officials were lying about the situation and their concerns regarding the hostages, positioning the narrative as a stark contrast between stated humanitarian concerns and the realities of the conflict.
He noted that the hostages, held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), have become a focal point in ongoing exchanges about regional security, warning that the broader consequences of the conflict could escalate if foreign support were to waver. The remarks reflect a longstanding Iranian position that emphasizes regional influence and adversarial relations with Israel, while highlighting the importance Iran places on allied movements and their role in countering Israeli actions. Analysts suggest that such statements may resonate with parts of the regional audience who view the conflict through a lens of strategic deterrence and political messaging rather than purely humanitarian concerns.
The assertion about Israel’s vulnerability and reliance on U.S. aid comes as regional observers monitor how foreign backers might shape the trajectory of the current crisis, including potential shifts in diplomatic and military support. By stressing a rapid silencing if U.S. backing were withdrawn, Khamenei aimed to reinforce a narrative of perceived dependency and strategic exposure for Israel, a theme that has been present in other public statements from Iranian leadership in recent years. Meanwhile, the global audience watches closely for developments related to the hostages and the broader humanitarian impact of the conflict, as well as the possible flashpoints that could influence international responses and regional alignments. [Source: Reuters]