Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote a letter addressed to U.S. university students and made statements on X in support of the protests across the country against Israel’s war in Gaza. Khamenei stated on X, “Dear university students in the United States of America, you are standing on the right side of history.”
Khamenei also encouraged students who are critical of the U.S. government’s support of Israel, stating, “You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your government’s ruthless pressure — which openly supports Zionists.” He then encouraged students to study Islam, stating, “Dear university students in the US, my advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran.”
In response to Khamenei’s statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz claimed Iran is promoting protests on university campuses, and accused Iran of promoting terrorism, stating on X:
. @khamenei_ir to protesting students in the U.S.: “You are on the right side of history, you have become part of the axis of resistance.” Iran is promoting protests and terrorism in the U.S. and Europe — Iran is the head of the snake. The free world must stop it now before it’s too late.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated on X, “When you’ve won the Ayatollah, you’ve lost America.” Representative Brian Mast (R-Fla.) criticized the protesters, stating on X, “If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history.”
