What else did the ayatollah say?
Ayatollah Khamenei, 80, addressed the nation from the Mosalla mosque in the capital. The last time he did so was in 2012 on the 33rd anniversary of the country's Islamic Revolution. Leading Friday prayers in the capital is a symbolically significant act usually reserved for times when Iran's highest authority wishes to deliver an important message, says Mehdi Khalaji of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Historically, Iranian leaders have left this task to loyal clerics with strong oratorical skills, he adds. Thousands of Iranians chanted slogans beneath portraits of Qasem Soleimani As well as defending the military, the ayatollah:- Criticised the "evil" administration of US President Donald Trump, whom he called a "clown"
- Accused Washington of "lying" when it expressed support for the Iranian people, and said the US would "stab them with their poison dagger"
- Said the Iranian missile strikes in Iraq were a "slap on the face" to the US
- Described Iran's elite Quds Force - which the US has designated a terrorist organisation - as a "humanitarian organisation with human values"
- Called Soleimani's funeral and the Iranian military response a "turning point in history"
- Lambasted the "evil" British government, along with Germany and France, for triggering the formal dispute mechanism over the 2015 nuclear deal
Defending his rule and his government
Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian This sermon was an effort from Iran's supreme leader - who has come under heavy criticism in recent days - to defend his rule. He delivered part of his address in Arabic, calling on the Arab and Islamic world to drive the US out of the region. "The biggest punishment for the United States is its expulsion," he said. But his more immediate aim was to shore up his government after the Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down. The episode has weakened Ayatollah Khamenei's position at home. There have been protests up and down the country, with demonstrators shouting slogans and calling on him to step down. Today, the ayatollah accused the protesters of being influenced by foreign-based media. He also praised the Revolutionary Guard for bringing security to the country. But, ultimately, he seemed to have little new to say. As a result, he is unlikely to have won much support for the policies he has been pursuing. Many in Iran had hoped the ayatollah would change course and admit past mistakes. That was far from the case.What about the plane investigation?
Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne is due to meet his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, in Muscat, Oman, to discuss the investigation. Speaking on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced interim compensation of C$25,000 (£14,700) per victim for the families of Canadian citizens or permanent residents killed in the crash. He said Canada expected Iran to financially compensate all the families of the victims. "I have met them and they can't wait weeks. They need support now," he told reporters in Ottawa. It comes a day after Mr Champagne held talks in London with ministers of four other nations that lost citizens in the crash. Speaking on behalf of the group, he said on Thursday: "We are here to pursue closure, accountability, transparency and justice for the victims - Ukrainian, Swedish, Afghan, British, Canadian as well as Iranian, through a full, complete and transparent international investigation."DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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