Tehran – Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Revolution, repeatedly praised the secretary general of Sayad Hassan Nasrala for his role in fostering resistance to Israeli occupation. Following the assassination of Nasrala during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in late September 2024, Iranian leaders have issued several messages celebrating his life and legacy.
Lamenting martial arts
In a message released after Nasrala’s martialism on September 27, 2024, Ayatollah Khamenei announced his five-day mourning, asserting that “resistance will in the future will have a heavy blow to the Zionist regime.” He lamented the loss of Nasrara and declared him a “great fighter”, a “rolemn resistance”, a “religious scholar” and a “wise political leader”. He emphasized Nasrala’s devotion to defending the Lebanese people to Israeli crime and the oppressed Palestinian people, describing his martialism as a “blessing” that he earned through his tireless efforts throughout his lifetime.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that Nasrala’s foundations and his guidance on other resistance movements would endure and strengthen through the blood of martians. Working on the Zionist regime, he declared that their violence had “been not achieved victory,” and emphasized that Nasrara was a symbol of the road and a school of thought that continued. He further argued that the Resistance Front would bring a crushed blow to the aging, corrupt body of the Zionist regime.
Regarding the broader impact, Ayatollah Khamenei said:
“The loss of Nasrala is a huge loss for the Lebanese Muslim world, the front of resistance and Hezbollah. However, decades of Nasrala’s prudence and jihad blessings will not be erased by his martialism.”
In a subsequent message, he said: “Resistance determines the fate of West Asia, and Hezbollah is leading the way. Zionist criminals need to know that they are too weak to be able to seriously damage the solid structure of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah provides their resources and support as Hezbollah takes him and stands up to the cruel and malicious (Zionist) regime.”
Memorializing the influence of Nasrara
In Friday’s prayer in central Tehran in early October 2024, Iranian leaders said:
He praised Nasrala’s “elegant voice and brave defense of the oppressed,” noting that his influence has spread beyond Lebanon, Iran and the Arab states. In late October, he said the struggles of regional resistance leaders, including Nasrala, “helped change the fate of the West Asia region.”
On November 7th, 2024, during a meeting with a meeting of experts, Ayatollah Khamenei said:
“The late Nasrara and other dear martyrs… have truly brought honor to Islam. They also brought honor to the front of resistance, increasing its power and capabilities. And the extraordinary trust in God has grown remarkably, transforming into an organization with the enemy, all sorts of substances, propaganda and media weapons.
Funerals and burials
On February 21, 2025, during the funeral and burial ceremony of Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a message.
“The great Mujahid and the principal commander of regional resistance, Sayed Hassan Nasrara (God lifts his position), is in a position of high honor. His pure body is placed to rest on the land of Jihad for God, but his spirit and his path shine on a glorious day, honoring the enemy. Repression, and arrogance never ends, continues until by God’s will, reaching the ultimate goal.
Sayyed Hashem Safieddine’s good name and sparkling expression (may God please him) are also stars that shine in the history of the region. He was a close companion and an inseparable part of the leadership of resistance in Lebanon. May the greetings of God and his righteous servants take part in these two honorable mujahids. Like other brave and self-sacrificing fighters who have recently reached Martianism. And to all the martyrs of Islam. I send you a special greeting to you, my beloved children, the brave young people of Lebanon. ”
I defend the cause
Even before Nasrala’s martialism, Iranian leaders repeatedly praised his leadership:
August 16, 2006: Following the victory of Hezbollah in a 33-day war, Ayatollah Khamenei sent the following message:
“The victory of Lebanon’s Islamic resistance is a victory of Islam, a victory that brought honor to the Arab countries and defeated the forged formidable nature of the Zionist regime’s military.”
After Israel retreated from southern Lebanon in May 2000, Nasrara visited Tehran to meet Ayatollah Khamenei. Iranian leaders praised the Hezbollah chief and congratulated the success of the resistance movement. The visit was a sign of gratitude and solidarity, acknowledging Hezbollah’s role in forcing Israeli forces to leave the area after nearly 20 years of occupation.
Nasrala visited Tehran several times in the 1990s, meeting Ayatollah Khamenei and Iranian officials, and Iranian leaders praised his leadership and political achievements, and emphasized the importance of supporting Hezbollah’s resistance efforts.
Ayatollah Khamenei has consistently emphasized Nasrara’s courage, wisdom and dedication to the oppressed. He recognized Nasrala not only as a military and political leader, but also as a symbol of resistance, a guardian of Islam, and a symbol of the leadership of the Islamic world. Through Nasrara, Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed the enduring strength of Hezbollah and the resistance front in the face of his enemies.