Iran’s supreme leader has accused the United States and Israel of attempting to destabilise the Islamic republic and “bring the nation to its knees,” in a written message aired on state television to mark the anniversary of the country’s national legislature. In the message, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said that Iran faced a coordinated campaign involving military pressure, economic sanctions, and information warfare aimed at weakening the state and creating internal divisions.

He argued that such efforts were intended to reverse what he described as earlier “military defeats” by undermining national unity and cohesion. He called on Iranians to remain united and stressed the importance of political and social cohesion at a time of heightened regional tensions. The statement framed external pressure as part of a broader strategy to fragment Iranian society and weaken state institutions. The remarks come amid continuing geopolitical friction between Iran and Western allies of Israel, with tensions periodically escalating across the Middle East through proxy conflicts, sanctions regimes, and diplomatic standoffs.

Iran has long maintained that US and Israeli policies in the region are aimed at containing its influence, while Washington and Tel Aviv have accused Tehran of destabilising activities through allied groups across multiple theatres. The message was delivered in a formal broadcast rather than a public appearance, continuing a pattern of limited visibility for the supreme leadership in recent months. State media described the statement as part of commemorations linked to the founding of Iran’s legislative institutions following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a foundational moment in the country’s modern political system.

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Mojtaba Khamenei, who is 56, is widely regarded as a central figure within Iran’s clerical-political establishment. The statement referenced continuity of leadership and the need to preserve internal stability amid external pressures, reinforcing longstanding themes in Iranian state messaging about resistance to foreign interference. Iran’s leadership has repeatedly characterised sanctions and diplomatic isolation as tools of coercion aimed at regime change. In contrast, Western governments have maintained that sanctions are intended to curb Iran’s nuclear activities and regional military involvement.

The latest message reflects ongoing escalation in rhetorical exchanges between Tehran and its adversaries at a time when regional security dynamics remain fragile.  Analysts say such statements are often used to reinforce domestic cohesion and signal resolve to both internal audiences and external actors, particularly during periods of economic strain and geopolitical uncertainty. As tensions persist, Iran continues to position itself within a broader narrative of resistance, while calling for unity at home to withstand what it describes as sustained external pressure.

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