Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader's new threat: "We will plow Tel Aviv and Haifa"
Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader said in response to Western pressure over Iran's nuclear and missile programs: "We will plow Tel Aviv and Haifa."
Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, the interim Friday prayer leader in Tehran, spoke in a harsh and warning tone about possible actions by the West and Israel in his Friday prayer sermons on October 21, emphasizing that Iran will stand against any threat.
In these remarks, he warned, referring to the pressure from the United States and Europe against Iran's enrichment and missile development program, and said: "We are the ones who are plowing Tel Aviv and Haifa."
Khatami continued by addressing the US State Department's positions on enrichment and missile restrictions, and directly quoting his own words, said: "The US State Department clearly says that Iran should not have enrichment, but it must be said that you are wrong. What are you doing? Today, the US says not to have enrichment, and tomorrow it says not to have long-range missiles that, if they attack, can plow Iran, but these fools do not know that it is we who are plowing Tel Aviv and Haifa."
He also pointed to the effectiveness of mechanisms such as “snapback” and stated that the US and the Europeans are unable to exert effective pressure on Iran. He continued: “The US has not been able to do anything wrong for 47 years, and the Europeans cannot do anything wrong by activating snapback.” This statement has also been reflected in Persian-language media reports.
These remarks came in the context of the long-standing conflict between Iran and Israel and the escalation of tensions with the United States. International media outlets also reflected these threats, describing them as a continuation of the extremist pattern of some Iranian clerics towards Israel. Similar statements had previously been made by Iranian figures who threatened to destroy Israeli cities. Examples of this kind have also been reported in previous years.
From the perspective of international law and international politics, such statements could lead to heightened concerns about regional stability and the security implications for civilians. Political observers say that threatening rhetoric, especially when heard from official figures, increases the risk of more violent reactions at home and abroad and makes the process of diplomatic talks more difficult.
It is noteworthy that while official officials and religious institutions in Iran have repeated such positions, Christian civil society groups and religious leaders in the region and beyond have generally emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, interfaith dialogue, and efforts to reduce tensions. Reflecting on these views and reactions can provide a balanced picture of the potential impact of these statements on Christian communities and Christians living in the region.
