Khamenei says defense of Hezbollah remains Iran's 'strategic mandate'

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reiterated on Sunday that any deal with the United States must include an "absolute, unconditional" end to the fighting in Lebanon, stating that the defense of Hezbollah remains Iran's "strategic mandate." In a message to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, Khamenei praised the group's "steadfastness" against Israel, asserting that "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the defense of these oppressed yet powerful mujahideen [Jihad fighters] to be its strategic mandate." He also declared that Tehran's primary condition for any agreement with the U.S. is the preservation of Lebanon's "territorial integrity" and the "absolute, unconditional termination" of what he termed the "Zionist regime's aggression." Khamenei emphasized that "There remains no path forward except jihad and resistance," and paid tribute to slain Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.