Iran's Supreme Leader Reiterates Threats Against Israel To Athletes

In a Wednesday address to Iranian sports champions and medal winners of the Asian Games, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei again issued a warning to Israel.

"The Israeli heavy defeat will not be compensated by these bombings; such bombardment campaigns will only shorten the life of the occupying regime; [and] this tyranny and cruelty will not go unanswered," he said, referring to the relentless retaliatory attacks launched by Israel in the wake of the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7. It was the single most deadly day for Jews since the Holocaust, 1,200 mostly civilians brutally murdered, leading to Israel vowing to destroy the proscribed terror group.

In spite of denials of involvement in the Hamas invasion, Khamenei celebrated the day now branded Black Sabbath in Israel with women, elderly and children slaughtered, and 240 taken hostage.

"The Zionist regime was knocked out in Al-Aqsa Storm," he boasted, Iran having a long history of backing its biggest Palestinian proxy, Hamas.

He also commended Iranian athletes who expressed solidarity with Palestine by withdrawing from competitions against Israeli athletes in Hangzhou’s international sports tournament. Khamenei highlighted the significance of their actions in the wake of Israel's actions in Gaza.

While there is no legislation explicitly banning Iranian athletes from competing against Israelis, pressure from federation officials often leads to intentional losses, match forfeitures, or claims of injury.

The Supreme Leader has consistently praised Iranian athletes who refuse to compete against Israelis. In September 2021, Khamenei encouraged them to persist in their boycotts, even in the face of potential punishment by international sports bodies.

Approximately 30 Iranian athletes have defected from national teams in a range of sports in recent years, seeking asylum in other countries.