Iran's Khamenei to give sermon after attack on Israel

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set to lead Friday prayers and deliver a public sermon that could shed light on the Islamic republic's plans after a massive missile attack on enemy Israel.

Mr Khamenei's rare Friday sermon, a first in almost five years, comes three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, triggered by the Iran-backed Palestinian group's 7 October attack.

The supreme leader, who wields the highest authority in Iran, will lead Muslims in prayer at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran, his official website said.

The prayer will follow "a commemoration ceremony" at 8am Irish time for Hassan Nasrallah, the slain leader of Iran-backed Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who answer to Mr Khamenei, said the barrages of some 200 missiles were in retaliation for Israel's killing of Nasrallah alongside Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan in a late September strike on Beirut, and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

Mr Khamenei last led Friday prayers in January 2020 after Iran fired missiles at a US army base in Iraq, in response to a strike that killed revered Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.

In Iran, crowds waving Hezbollah and Iran flags gathered outside the former US embassy building in Tehran to denounce Israeli "crimes" in Gaza and in Lebanon, Iranian media reported.

The ayatollah had declared public mourning in Iran for Mr Nasrallah and said that the Hezbollah chief's death was "not a small matter".

Hamas, Hezbollah and other armed groups in the Middle East are part of the Iran-aligned "axis of resistance" opposed to Israel and its ally the United States.

Analysts said Iran's missile attack - its second-ever directly targeting Israel - was meant to counter a string of setbacks suffered by Iran and its regional allies.

Iran has said this week's attack was carried out in "self-defence" and warned of "crushing attacks" on Israel if it retaliated.

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The Islamic republic has also warned the US against intervening, threatening "a harsh response" if it did.

The US has said Iran must suffer "consequences", which may be coordinated with Israeli officials, for the ballistic missile fire.

US President Joe Biden said he was discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites.

In April, Iran had sent missiles and drones against Israel in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus.

In both attacks, nearly all missiles were intercepted by Israel or its allies, according to Israeli authorities.