Tehran – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with senior Hamas leaders, including acting leader Khalil al-Hayya, in Tehran on Saturday, according to Iranian state television.
During the meeting, Khamenei praised Hamas, stating that its ongoing conflict with Israel represented a broader setback for the United States. “You have defeated the Zionist regime, which in reality is also America’s defeat. You did not let them achieve their objectives,” Khamenei told the Palestinian delegation. Iran has been a key supporter of Hamas in its war against Israel.
The Hamas leaders visited Tehran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and to express gratitude for Iran’s continued backing. The delegation, which included Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas’ leadership council, and senior official Nizar Awadallah, briefed Khamenei on the latest developments in Gaza and the West Bank. They highlighted what they described as military successes and strategic gains in the ongoing conflict.
“We come to meet with you today with pride,” al-Hayya reportedly told Khamenei.
Khamenei dismissed U.S. warnings against Iran, saying that such threats “have no effect on the mindset of our nation,” Iranian media reported. The meeting underscores Iran’s continued influence in regional conflicts, further solidifying its ties with Hamas amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.