As Iran and much of the world reels from the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes early Sunday, his latest public speech is in the spotlight.
Khamenei’s speech, delivered on February 17, just over ten days ago, included sharp warnings against the United States and Israel, reflections on unrest inside Iran, and references to Iran’s history.He directly criticized the United States, describing it as a “crumbling empire,” and stressed that America is in decline. “It is a system that is truly in decline,” he said. “It is an empire that is heading toward collapse.” He rejected pressures related to Iran’s defense capabilities and its nuclear program, and added: “The problem we have with the United States is that they want to devour Iran, and the Iranian nation prevents them.”
The Islamic Republic stands in their way.
Regarding the American threats, he added clearly: “You also will not be able to do something like this,” referring to the elimination of the Islamic Republic.
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Follow live updates in the wake of Khamenei’s death hereThe speech was delivered in East Azerbaijan province, on the eve of the anniversary of the 1978 Tabriz Uprising, when protests against the Shah broke out. “Over a period of time during the revolutionary period, whenever I traveled to Tabriz or other cities in Azerbaijan, I felt that there was a special distinction – some superiority – in the feelings, outlook and perspective of these people.
It’s something seen less frequently elsewhere.
This particular event, which occurred on Bahman 29, 1356 (February 18, 1978), is a historical landmark that should never be forgotten.” he said, in what became his final public speech. He also spoke of a more recent episode of unrest, about 40 days ago, which he described as an “attempted coup.” Foreign intelligence agencies, including those of the United States and Israel, allegedly organized the unrest to target sensitive military and government sites.
Khamenei said: “My dears! What happened was a coup that was defeated.” “It wasn’t that a group of young people or old people got angry somewhere… No, it was much more than that.
“It was a coup attempt, but this coup was crushed under the feet of the Iranian nation.” He claimed that security forces, Basij, IRGC and ordinary citizens foiled the plot, preventing the takeover of key institutions, including the National Broadcasting Corporation (IRIB).
The Israeli military has confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in a precise US-Israeli airstrike on his central command compound in Tehran. The operation, which targeted Khamenei and senior officials, ended decades of his rule, during which he assumed command of Iran’s armed forces, supervised internal repression, and directed regional proxy networks. The Iranian authorities acknowledged the strike and assigned transitional supervision to the president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the jurists of the Guardian Council.
