Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Apr 1: Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has conveyed strong support for Naim Qassem and pledged continued backing for resistance against the United States and Israel, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

In a message, Khamenei expressed gratitude for Qassem’s condolences following the "martyrdom" of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28. He emphasized that steadfastness against “the Muslim world’s most stubborn enemies,” namely the US and Israel, was a defining quality of the late leader. Khamenei also lauded the courage and sacrifices of past Hezbollah leaders and expressed confidence in Qassem’s ability to counter Israeli actions and restore dignity to the Lebanese people.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) further escalated tensions, claiming it struck an Israeli container ship in the Persian Gulf with ballistic missiles during a new wave of attacks targeting US and Israeli interests, according to Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC warned that companies accused of involvement in “terrorist espionage,” including major US technology firms, could be targeted, urging employees and nearby residents to evacuate. Drone attacks were also reportedly launched on strategic Israeli communication, telecommunication, and industrial centers.

In parallel, Iran executed two individuals linked to the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) for their alleged roles in “terror operations” in Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed reports of a missile launch toward Türkiye as “completely baseless.”

The developments come amid growing regional tensions, highlighting Iran’s continued strategic alignment with Hezbollah and its readiness to target perceived adversaries in the US-Israel sphere.