WANA (May 26) – Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, said in his message for the Hajj pilgrimage that opposition to the United States and Israel should not be limited to the Hajj season.

 

Hajj, one of the most important religious rituals in Islam, is held annually in Saudi Arabia and brings together millions of Muslims from around the world. In Iran, the Supreme Leader’s Hajj messages often include not only religious themes but also political and regional positions.

 

In this year’s message, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized the importance of “disavowal of the polytheists” — a concept used in Iran’s political and religious discourse to refer to opposition to the United States and Israel.

 

He said the “scope and depth” of this opposition should extend beyond the Hajj rituals and added that the slogans “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” would continue to be heard among what he described as “the Islamic nation and the oppressed people of the world.”

 

Focus on Regional Developments and the “Axis of Resistance”

In several parts of the message, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to recent regional conflicts and to groups allied with Iran across the Middle East.

 

He described what Iran calls the “Axis of Resistance” — including allied groups in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria and Yemen — as a force confronting Israel and American influence in the region.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the United States is gradually losing its former position in the Middle East and claimed that regional countries would no longer serve as “a shield for American bases.”

 

Remarks on Israel and the Future of the Region

In another section of the message, Iran’s Supreme Leader described Israel as an “unstable regime” and said it was approaching what he called “the final stages of its existence.”

 

He also spoke about the emergence of a “new regional order” shaped by Muslim countries and regional nations.

 

Linking Hajj to Political Issues

One of the central themes of the message was the connection between Hajj and political issues affecting the Muslim world.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei said the concept of “disavowal of the polytheists” should go beyond a religious ceremony and become part of Muslims’ “individual, social and political life.”

 

The concept has been part of the Islamic Republic’s official discourse since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and refers to demonstrations and gatherings during Hajj in which some Iranian pilgrims and others chant slogans against the United States and Israel.

 

Call for Cooperation Among Muslim Countries

Alongside his political remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei called on Muslim countries to strengthen cooperation and work together to address issues facing the Islamic world.

 

He also urged Iranian pilgrims attending this year’s Hajj to discuss regional developments and what he described as the “victories of the resistance front” with other Muslims.