Sheikh Issa Qassem stated on Tuesday that Ayatollah Khamenei is a unique leader in the world, distinguished from others by his profound seminary background, spiritual stature, and political leadership.
“A leader for whom millions of great men and women in Iran sacrifice their lives and consider his command as the command of religion,” Sheikh Qassem said.
He also emphasized that Muslims around the world support Ayatollah Khamenei and his efforts to promote stability, peace, and brotherhood among all people.
The statement came more than a week after US President Donald Trump insulted Ayatollah Khamenei in a series of remarks during an interview with Politico.
This followed Ayatollah Khamenei’s January 17 speech in which he stated that Iran holds Trump responsible for aiding and abetting terrorists who orchestrated large-scale riots in the country in early January.
Ayatollah Khamenei said Trump had falsely portrayed terrorist groups as representatives of the Iranian people, calling it “an appalling slander.”
In his Tuesday statement, Sheikh Qassem noted that the millions of Iranians who took to the streets across the country on January 13 to condemn the riots demonstrated clear public support for Ayatollah Khamenei against foreign-backed sabotage operations.
He added that no one in Iran would believe Trump’s claims of supporting reform in the country, given his endorsement and involvement in a 12-day war of aggression by the Israeli regime in June.