Endorsement of American Pro-Hamas College Students by ‘World’s Biggest Terrorist Leader’ Sparks Widespread Reaction AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
Widespread online reaction followed a message from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praising pro-Hamas American university students protesting Israel, welcoming them to the terrorist “Resistance Front,” and encouraging them to “become familiar with the Quran.”
The letter, which is addressed to U.S. college students, was published Wednesday evening on Khamenei.ir, the official website of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the “Supreme Leader” of Iran.
Imam Khamenei's letter addressed to the American university studentshttps://t.co/A9n98vGdT9#LetterFromLeader #United4Palestine pic.twitter.com/c9gnFrWyKc
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 29, 2024
The 85-year-old authoritarian ruler, widely criticized for backing terrorism, has a history of human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and radical policies, which have led to widespread suffering and repression among the Iranian people.
⚡ : A viral video circulating on social media shows the "Morality Police" of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran brutally arresting a girl for not wearing a proper hijab in Tehran.#AllEyesOnIran pic.twitter.com/jF5LI2YprI
— Shayan X (@ShayanX0) May 29, 2024
In his letter, Khamenei reverses narratives by labeling innocent defenders as terrorists while glorifying those he supports, and distorting historical events to align with his extreme ideological views.
Expressing “empathy and solidarity” with the pro-Hamas students, Khamenei insisted they were “standing on the right side” of history, and that they are a “branch of the Resistance Front.”
The “Resistance Front” is a reference to a loose alliance of Iran-backed terror groups and militias across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Houthis, Iraq’s Islamic Resistance, and Hamas, all of which oppose Western influence, while seeking to destroy Israel and kill American troops.
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He then clarifies that the goal of the struggle for Palestinians is to end the supposed oppression of a “brutal Zionist terrorist network,” without any mention of the Arab terror perpetrated against Jewish communities since before the Jewish state’s inception and throughout its existence.
The Ayatollah blames a “global Zionist elite” that owns or influences most US and European media corporations for labeling the “courageous, humane resistance movement as ‘terrorism.’”
“I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance,” he writes, before citing the Koran’s teachings to uphold righteousness and refrain from oppression.
Dear university students in the US, my advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 30, 2024
“My advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran,” he concludes.
“When you’ve won the Ayatollah, you’ve lost America,” wrote House Speaker Mike Johnson.
When you’ve won the Ayatollah, you’ve lost America. pic.twitter.com/WaTJ53DxDy
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 30, 2024
“If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history,” wrote US Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL).
If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history. https://t.co/GZ1Rb32xCw
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) May 30, 2024
“The ayatollah and @TheDemocrats are supporting the same movement. Let that sink in,” wrote Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
The ayatollah and @TheDemocrats are supporting the same movement. Let that sink in. https://t.co/dqRMGKy5r7
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) May 30, 2024
“The Supremely evil leader of Iran proselytizing to American students,” wrote speechwriter Aviva Klompas.
The Supremely evil leader of Iran proselytizing to American students
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) May 30, 2024
“Khamenei now joins Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda in lauding anti-Israel protests on Western campuses,” wrote Joe Truzman, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Long War Journal.
Khamenei now joins Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda in lauding anti-Israel protests on Western campuses.
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) May 30, 2024
Journalist David Atherton shared a “message to all you useful idiots seen out last night & most Saturdays, who have been endorsed by Al-Qaeda Islamic republic of Iran, Hamas & Houthis” with an image depicting ISIS decapitators with their victims, with the message: “If you believe you can coexist with people like this, you’re a very special kind of stupid.”
A message to all you useful idiots seen out last night & most Saturdays, who have been endorsed by Al-Qaeda Islamic republic of Iran, Hamas & Houthis. pic.twitter.com/A4AY9R24bu
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) May 29, 2024
“Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that the Iranian Supreme Leader would be thanking a bunch of blue-haired atheists at Columbia,” wrote the “End Wokeness” X account.
Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that the Iranian Supreme Leader would be thanking a bunch of blue-haired atheists at Columbia.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 29, 2024
“The world’s biggest terrorist leader just gave US university students the green light. Congratulations!” wrote Yemeni-born journalist Luai Ahmed.
The world’s biggest terrorist leader just gave US university students the green light.
Congratulations! https://t.co/wxETXpX8ht
— Luai Ahmed (@JustLuai) May 30, 2024
“When Khameini is supporting you and on your side, then you're on the wrong side of history,” wrote the “Leftism” X account.
When Khameini is supporting you and on your side, then you're on the wrong side of history.
— Leftism (@LeftismForU) May 30, 2024
“From the regime’s Supreme Leader to students in the U.S. How can it be right in front of them and they still can’t see it?” wondered Iranian-American activist Elica Le Bon.
From the regime’s Supreme Leader to students in the U.S. How can it be right in front of them and they still can’t see it? pic.twitter.com/5ELzwFU3Hn
— Elica Le Bon الیکا ل بن (@elicalebon) May 30, 2024
“Ayatollah Khamenei's praise for American protests is hypocritical, given his regime's brutal repression of dissent in Iran, including executions for minor infractions and severe punishment for protestors,” wrote one X user.
“To college students. Go do your research on this man. He is evil,” wrote another.
“Dear American college students, You're now being praised by the FUCKING AYATOLLAH of Iran,” another wrote. “Maybe think on that for a moment. Crazy, huh?”
Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism worldwide as well as one of the primary funders of Hamas, the Iranian proxy Islamist terrorist organization that perpetrated the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history on October 7, targeting attendees at a music festival and those in southern Israeli towns, all while thousands of rockets rained down on Israeli civilian centers.
The massacre saw terrorists kill approximately 1,200 people and wound over 4,800, with at least 242 hostages taken — more than half of whom still remain in Gaza. The vast majority of the victims are civilians and include dozens of American citizens.
Day 199
These 5 #Americans are still #Hostages in Gaza, kidnapped by #Hamas:
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35
Edan Alexander, 19
Omer Neutra, 21
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23
Keith Siegel, 62The American media & @POTUS @JoeBiden Administration and the media are #silent!#SayTheirNames pic.twitter.com/C7oa64Dmka
— Just a Dude 🇺🇸 (@VoodooChild38) April 23, 2024
The government of Iran responded to initial reports of the attack by staging a massive street party in Tehran that same day. Attendees chanted “death to Israel” and “death to America” and were treated with free lemonade and a fireworks display to celebrate the mass killing of Israelis.
In addition, the Iranian parliament gave Hamas a standing ovation, shouting “Death to Israel!” and “Palestine is victorious, Israel will be destroyed!”
Iranian parliamentarians chant "Death to Israel. Death to America" in support of Palestinian groups. pic.twitter.com/dsA7a8Gba1
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 7, 2023
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei glorified the carnage as the brutal events were unfolding, writing in a post, “God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people.”
God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region. #AlAqsaStorm pic.twitter.com/XDyxoTT4gw
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 7, 2023
Prior to the massacre, on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the U.S. homeland by radical Muslim terrorists, Khamenei celebrated the demise of “the arrogant power of America” in a speech in Tehran.
In November, he declared that the common chant of “Death to America” in his country is “not just a slogan – it is a policy,” one his regime intended to bring to fruition.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Death to America Is Not Just a Slogan, It Is a Policy; The West Could Not Handle Anti-Israel and Anti-American Protests, So They Claimed Iran Was Behind Rallies in England #Iran #Hamas pic.twitter.com/yuJqXU9d9z
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) November 2, 2023
Last month, he lauded the pro-Palestinian protests across U.S. college campuses, particularly praising the chants “against Israel and America,” while depicting the radical demonstrations sweeping the country as a form of victory for the Islamic regime over the “ruined” Western democracies.
See what is happening in the world. In Western countries, in England and France, and in states across the US itself, people are coming out in huge numbers to chant slogans against Israel and America. US & Israel's reputation has been ruined. They truly have no solution. pic.twitter.com/dH3FEf7b0X
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 28, 2024
The Islamic theocrat also ranted against the “evil nature” of the West and declared Israel “must be punished and will be punished” for an airstrike that eliminated one of Tehran’s most influential terrorist operatives.
On Wednesday, al-Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the deadly September 11 attacks, praised recent left-wing pro-Hamas protests on college campuses.
The Islamic Terrorist Group, Al-Qaeda released a Statement today discussing the War between Israel and Hamas, during which they send “Support and Endorsements” to Students at Colleges across the United States who are Occupying their Campus in Protest of the War in Gaza and… pic.twitter.com/fOx6uIsh1V
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 29, 2024
According to world-renowned military historian and professor Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, the Iranian proxy terrorist group Hamas relies on “useful Western idiots” to support the Palestinian cause, which has “fused with the leftwing DEI industry.” In addition, he argues, pro-Palestinian protests and support for Hamas in the U.S. have alienated many Americans and will all but ensure a tough conservative president in 2024.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
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