Iran's Supreme Leader: Friday Sermon.

The present Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei took Friday prayers. Something this old man has not done in 4 years. Iran is now at a pivotal point in its history. The way things are going Iran could find itself at war with Israel and the USA. Iran has attacked Israel twice this year with missile and drone barrages. One in April and one on the 1 October. Many label these attacks ineffective as Israel's advanced air defence system seemed to take care of most of the missiles. Some got through on both occasions and did some damage but no lives were lost. This was largely because the Iron Dome and other advanced air defence systems are - accurate. In this second attack, some missiles hit Iranian air bases. Satellite photos showed bases had taken damage from the Iranian projectiles. Some say some of Israel's jets were damaged or taken out. How true this is we cannot tell in the fog of war.

Israel, the US, the UK, etc, say both Iranian attacks were foiled because Iran's weapons are no good or most were taken out by air defences. How do you measure success though? On how much infrastructure has been taken out? how many civilians were taken out? How much military was destroyed? The Iranians say unlike the Israelis, they are aiming for military targets. Which if you look at the evidence seems to be the case. However, with that said, one has to be careful with propaganda from both sides. What side you take and whom do you believe, is largely a decision for the individual, so I'll let it be.

Israel has threatened to hit back and will hit back hard, knowing Netanyahu. Much like Russia, Israel is bombing the hell out of Gaza and now Lebanon. Much damage has been done to Hamas and Hezbollah, however, the IDF finds itself bogged down in a forever war with both groups' fighters. Israel says both groups hide in civilian areas hence when it is attacking it cannot help killing civilians. This is true to some extent, most definitely. However, Israel's Mossad and government buildings are in civilian areas so if an Iranian missile struck those buildings there would probably be civilian casualties there. So, Iran could say Israel bases its resources in civilian regions and uses them as human shields. One of Iran's missiles exploded near the Mossad HQ in Tel Aviv and left a massive crater.

Ayatollah Khamenei appeared at a mosque in Tehran dedicated to the founder of the Iranian Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The aged Supreme Leader said the attack on Israel was justified. Israel had taken out Hezbollah's Secretary General with bunker-buster bombs, Hassan Nasrallah. Hamas' former leader was killed by Israel in Tehran Ismail Haniyah. He was attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new President. Israel has killed major Hezbollah and Hamas commanders too. So, Iran said it has the right of self-defence when it is attacked or its Allies are attacked. Just as Israel goes on the offensive against Iran, the Houthis, Hamas, or Hezbollah, in other words defending itself.

The Supreme Leader continued that the regime was not "hiding" "seeking shelter" or "underground". In other words, the regime was in the open and unafraid. The Ayatollah called on Muslims (Sunni as well?) to unite and stand up to the enemies of Islam.

As usual, the crowd made up of Iranian military, ordinary people, and other members of the clergy shouted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Like robots, since the 1979 revolution, these calls for a calamity on its enemies have been standard speak.