BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
The assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, following Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, has sparked a wave of condemnation and strong reactions from Iranian officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to have ordered the attack while delivering a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he claimed Israel seeks “peace” and “prosperity” in the region. This move has been widely criticized as contradictory to the deadly assault that followed in Beirut, resulting in massive casualties and widespread destruction.
Iranian President Pezeshkian was among the first to respond, condemning Nasrallah’s assassination and accusing both Israel and the United States of complicity in the crime. Pezeshkian expressed that Nasrallah had achieved his “lifetime dream” of martyrdom in the path of sacrifice, referring to the Hezbollah leader’s long-standing fight against Israeli aggression. He also pointed out that the assassination was decided while Netanyahu was in New York, highlighting the involvement of both the U.S. and Israeli governments in the attack. Despite the loss of Nasrallah, Pezeshkian emphasized that Hezbollah’s resistance will not falter and the fight against oppression will continue.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also issued a strong statement condemning the airstrikes. In a letter to his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, Qalibaf described Israel’s actions as “state terrorism” and a violation of human rights. He drew a connection between the recent attacks and the ongoing brutalities in Gaza, framing both as a part of Israel’s larger genocidal campaign in the region. Qalibaf’s condemnation also criticized the silence of the international community, which he referred to as a betrayal of global human rights values. His words underscored the Iranian Parliament’s continued support for the Resistance Front and Hezbollah.
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref issued a stern warning to Israel in response to Nasrallah’s assassination, declaring that the blood of martyrs like Nasrallah would lead to the eventual destruction of Israel. Aref’s statement stressed that the world is now at a crucial juncture, and the global community must confront Israel’s atrocities. He reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for the Resistance Front and predicted that Nasrallah’s death would only strengthen Hezbollah’s resolve.
Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, echoed similar sentiments, warning that the Resistance against Israel will only intensify after Nasrallah’s martyrdom. Zarif, who referred to the Hezbollah leader as a “symbol of the fight against oppression,” also accused Israel and Netanyahu of having a “chaotic plan” for the region that is destined to fail. He sent his condolences to Hezbollah’s leadership, the Lebanese government, and the wider Resistance forces, while underscoring the symbolic importance of Nasrallah’s martyrdom for the cause.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also weighed in, asserting that Nasrallah’s assassination would only serve to highlight the fact that Israel does not belong in the West Asian region. Araqchi emphasized that Nasrallah, as a leader of Lebanon’s resistance against occupation, has now become a martyr whose legacy will fuel Hezbollah’s continued struggle against Zionist aggression. He expressed confidence that Nasrallah’s death would only strengthen Hezbollah’s cause and energize the Resistance Front.
Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri further condemned the assassination, calling Israel a “murderous, racist, and child-killing regime.” He warned that Israel’s heinous actions would only embolden the Resistance forces in their fight. Baqeri referenced the ongoing resistance in Gaza and the growing humiliation of Israel, emphasizing that the determination of Hezbollah and other resistance fighters will not waver but will grow stronger in the aftermath of Nasrallah’s martyrdom.
The assassination of Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has sent shockwaves across the Middle East, with Iranian officials unified in their message: Nasrallah’s death will not halt Hezbollah’s mission, but instead, will reinforce the group’s resistance against Israel. Iranian leaders continue to express unwavering support for the Resistance Front and warn that Israel’s actions will lead to its eventual downfall. Nasrallah’s martyrdom has become a symbol of enduring resistance, and his legacy, according to Iranian officials, will inspire further efforts in the fight for liberation.
