Iran's supreme leader claims support for Israel is 'melting away'

(3 Jun 2024)

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Tehran, Iran - 3 June 2024
1. Various of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arriving for speech, waving
2. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian supreme leader:
"The zionist regime is gradually melting away before the eyes of people around the world, it's running out. People around the world are seeing this. Of course they (Israelis) talk and make propaganda but the reality is this. They know this, politicians around the world know this, and a lot of nations understand this. The Palestinian people have understood this too."
3. Khamenei waving and leaving
STORYLINE:
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Monday said Israel is "melting away" due to its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Speaking in a ceremony marking 35th anniversary of late leader of the county Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei said: “The Palestinian people have understood this too.”

State television broadcast his speech live.

In a nearly 55-minute speech, the leader said that Israel's response to the Oct. 7th attack by Hamas that began the war placed it in a “dead-end corridor.”

Khamenei also said that the war had derailed Israel's U.S.-backed efforts to reach accommodations with regional neighbors, which he characterized as part of an Israeli plot to dominate the region.

AP video shot by Mohsen Ganji

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