Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has called on Muslim countries, especially those in the Gulf, to recognise their true adversary and stand united against it. In a written message released for Islamic Unity Week, which marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he stressed that divisions among Muslims only serve the interests of their common enemies.
The message, published on Khamenei’s Telegram account, urged greater cooperation among Muslim nations in different fields and mutual defence. He warned that anyone who creates rifts among Muslims, whether knowingly or unknowingly, ends up helping the enemies of Islam. He also questioned whether the Palestinian people would have been left in such a helpless state if the Muslim world had remained united.
Khamenei specifically addressed the rulers of Gulf Arab states. He asked whether “rogues without identity” would have dared to eye their lands and resources if the peoples and governments of the region had stood together under the flag of Islam. His emphatic recommendation was clear: identify the real enemy, understand its plans, and confront it with determination.
The Iranian leader has not appeared in public since he was injured in US Israeli airstrikes six months ago that also resulted in the death of his father, the previous Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The current conflict has seen Tehran target US military facilities and infrastructure in several Gulf states, highlighting the deep tensions between Iran and its neighbours.
In a separate message to Iranians on Friday, Khamenei said he had banned actions that damage social cohesion and advised authorities to avoid statements that weaken national morale. His latest appeal for unity continues this theme of internal strength and collective resistance.
The call comes at a time of heightened regional instability. By focusing on Muslim solidarity and mutual defence, Khamenei is attempting to shift the narrative towards shared Islamic interests rather than existing political differences among Gulf states and Iran. Whether this message will influence regional leaders remains to be seen, but it underscores Tehran’s ongoing effort to frame the conflict in broader religious and civilisational terms.
