“The issue of Palestine will definitely come to an end with the Palestinians’ and the Muslim World’s triumph,” Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with a Hamas delegation, headed by the deputy chairman of the movement, Saleh al-Arouri, in Tehran on Monday.

“Victory will not be achieved without resistance and struggle, and we believe according to the indubitable divine promise that the issue of Palestine will definitely be in the interest of the Palestinian people and the Islamic world,” the Leader said.

During the meeting, Al-Arouri submitted a letter from Ismail Haniyeh, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, to the Leader.
Thanking the important and welcoming positions of Haniyeh in the letter, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Hamas stands at the core of the Palestinian movement, as Palestine stands at the core of the Muslim World’s movement.”

The Leader emphasized that when it comes to the Palestinian cause, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not observe any reservations or ceremonies in dealing with any country of the world, and added, “We have always clearly and plainly announced our viewpoints regarding Palestine, and even on the international arena, our friends with who we do not see eye to eye on the issue of Palestine, know that the Islamic Republic is absolutely serious regarding the Palestinian cause.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that according to the divine tradition, the victory of the Palestinian people and the return of this holy land to the Islamic world are not strange and unrealistic, saying that “40 years ago, no one believed that in Iran—which was the center of US’s influence and aspirations—a religious government would be launched and the Israeli embassy in Tehran would be turned into a Palestinian Embassy. However, this unbelievable matter happened, hence it is possible to make the things which may seem strange come true.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s saying that ‘God willing, I will say my prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque’ is a completely practical and realizable hope for us.”

He touched on the “treacherous” initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, dubbed as the “deal of the century”, saying there is need for promotional, cultural and intellectual work to confront it.

“The goal of this dangerous conspiracy is to eliminate the Palestinian identity among the people and youth. There is need to confront this main goal and not allow them to eradicate the Palestinian identity with the use of money.”

The Leader was apparently referring to a two-day conference held in Bahrain last month, aimed at rallying support for an “investment” plan in the Palestinian Territories as the first part of the “deal of the century”.

The plan has met broad disdain from Palestinians and others in the Arab world although regional US allies such as Saudi Arabia discreetly support it.

“Another way of resisting this conspiracy is to make the people of Palestine feel progress that this has happened altogether, thanks to God,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.