Iran's Supreme Leader Issues Warning to Israel Following Recent Escalation

Iranian officials have made contradictory statements regarding the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi supporting a regional ceasefire and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defending Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel as legitimate. Araghchi stated that Tehran supports efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, while warning Tel Aviv that any attack on Iran would be met with a harsh response. In contrast, Khamenei called for unity among Muslim nations and vowed that Hezbollah and Hamas would emerge with new leaders, while defending Iran's attack on Israel as retaliation for the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh. Khamenei's address was the first since Iran launched its second attack on Israel, with Israel citing the goal of allowing displaced Israelis to return to their homes.