'Recognise Your Real Enemy, Confront It': Mojtaba Khamenei’s Call To Muslim Nations

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday called on Muslim countries across the region to unite against the United States and Israel, in a written message issued six months after the start of the Middle East war.

Khamenei, who came to power shortly after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed at the start of the war on February 28, has not yet appeared in public since his appointment. Authorities have also not released any video or audio of him.

Khamenei Calls For Unity Among Muslim Nations

Khamenei issued the message as Shia Muslims marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, calling for greater cooperation and unity among Islamic nations.

“The solution to the problems of the Islamic nations is unity of words, friendship, and cooperation

on the path of goodness,” he said on Sunday, according to his official website.

He warned that actions that create divisions among Muslims could serve the interests of their opponents.

“Anyone, in any position, who does anything that leads to division among Muslims and creates conflict in the Muslim community, knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, has served the purpose of the enemies of Islam,” he said.

Calls On Regional Rulers To Identify ‘Real Enemy’

The Iranian supreme leader also called on the rulers of regional countries to identify what he described as their “real enemy” and confront its plans.

“Recognise your real enemy, understand its plan, and confront it,” Khamenei said, referring to the United States and Israel.

During the war, Iran targeted US military bases across the Middle East, including bases in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Relations with those countries have since deteriorated.

Khamenei Urges Iranians To Set Aside Differences

Khamenei, who has the final say on major state policies, also appealed to Iranian officials and citizens to put aside their differences and maintain unity against Israel and the United States.

He repeated his call for social cohesion in his Sunday message, saying, “Again, this servant’s advice to the Iranian people is to not allow any differences to arise among themselves in any way.”

In another statement issued on Friday, he had said that actions harmful to social cohesion were prohibited.

“I firmly declare that doing anything detrimental to social cohesion is prohibited,” he said.

Calls For De-Dollarisation And Higher Production

In his Friday message, Khamenei also called for the gradual de-dollarisation of Iran’s economy and urged increased economic production to support growth.

His remarks came following months of a US naval blockade and years of crippling sanctions that have affected livelihoods.