Time is running out, Antonio Guterres told the 15-member Security Council
world1 day ago
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set to lead Friday prayers and deliver a public sermon that could shed light on the republic's plans after a massive missile attack on Israel.
Khamenei's rare Friday sermon — a first in almost five years — comes three days before the one-year mark of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The supreme leader, who wields the highest authority in Iran, will lead Muslims in prayer at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran, his official website said.
The prayer will follow "a commemoration ceremony" at 10.30am (0700 GMT) for Hassan Nasrallah, the slain leader of the armed movement Hezbollah.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who answer to Khamenei, said Tuesday's barrages of some 200 missiles were in retaliation for Israel's killing of Nasrallah alongside Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan in a late September strike on Beirut, and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
Khamenei last led Friday prayers in January 2020 after Iran fired missiles at a US army base in Iraq, in response to a strike that killed revered Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.
In Tehran on Thursday, crowds waving Hezbollah and Iran flags gathered outside the former US embassy building in Tehran to denounce Israeli "crimes" in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, Iranian media reported.
Khamenei had declared public mourning in Iran for Nasrallah and on Wednesday said that the Hezbollah chief's death was "not a small matter".
Analysts said Iran's missile attack — its second-ever directly targeting Israel — was meant to counter a string of setbacks suffered by Tehran and its regional allies.
Iran has said this week's attack was carried out in "self-defence" and warned of "crushing attacks" on Israel if it retaliated.
The republic has also warned the US — Israel's top arms provider — against intervening, threatening "a harsh response" if it did.
Washington has said Iran must suffer "consequences", which may be coordinated with Israeli officials, for the ballistic missile fire.
US President Joe Biden said Thursday he was discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites.
In April, Tehran had sent missiles and drones against Israel in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus.
In both attacks, nearly all missiles were intercepted by Israel or its allies, according to Israeli authorities.
ALSO READ:
Time is running out, Antonio Guterres told the 15-member Security Council
world1 day ago
Ukraine now spends roughly half of its state budget — or about $40 billion — on defence
world1 day ago
The advance of Moscow's forces, which control just under a fifth of Ukraine, has underlined Russia's vast superiority in men and materiel
world1 day ago
Teams of enumerators accompanied by soldiers and armed police went door to door in Yangon to fill in the 68-question survey
world1 day ago
The debate is likely the final one of the 2024 presidential campaign, potentially giving it some extra weight ahead of the November 5 election
world1 day ago
Taal is one of the world's smallest active volcanoes and some of its previous eruptions have impacted the capital and air travel
world1 day ago
The 207 to 121 vote was largely a repeat of the Conservatives' failed attempt last week to trigger snap elections
world1 day ago
Reporters say they are frequently rounded up for covering attacks by militant groups or writing about the discrimination of women
world1 day ago