Khamenei's words are likely to be scrutinized in the hunt for information about how Iran may react after Israel's repeated attacks on Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Last Friday, Hezbollah's long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a bombing raid on al-Dahiya in southern Beirut. And now, reports are circulating that his expected successor, Hashem Safieddine, was the target of another Israeli attack in the area.
Awaiting Revenge?
According to media reports, the 85-year-old ayatollah was moved to a "safe location" after news of Nasrallah's death last weekend.
But on Wednesday, he declared national mourning for Nasrallah and emphasized that the militia leader's death was "no small matter". And on Friday, he is to lead the public prayer in a mosque in central Tehran. It will be held directly after a memorial ceremony for Nasrallah and the high-ranking General Abbas Nilforushan from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, who was also killed in Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
The Revolutionary Guard, which is controlled by Khamenei, has announced that Tuesday's rocket attack on Israel was retaliation for Nasrallah's and Nilforushan's deaths. However, many in the outside world are wondering if more revenge attacks are to come.
Angry Crowds
The last time Khamenei led Friday prayers was when the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a US drone attack in Baghdad, Iraq in 2020.
In Tehran, security is reportedly high. Crowds, waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags, have gathered outside the former US embassy, chanting slogans against "Israel's crimes" in Lebanon and Gaza, according to Iranian media.
Hezbollah's military branch is considered a terrorist organization by several countries.
