Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, met with acting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and two senior officials of the Palestinian group in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian state media reported.
“You defeated the Zionist regime [Israel], which was, in fact, America’s defeat,” Khamenei told the delegation. “You did not allow them to achieve any of their goals.”
The Hamas leaders visited Tehran to congratulate Khamenei on the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and to thank Iran for its continued support. The delegation included Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas’ leadership council, and senior official Nizar Awadallah. During the meeting, they briefed Khamenei on developments in Gaza and the West Bank, describing what they called “victories and successes.”
“We come to meet with you today with pride,” al-Hayya was quoted as saying by Iranian state TV.
Khamenei also dismissed U.S. threats against Iran, saying, “They have no effect on the mindset of our nation,” according to Iranian media.
Hostage Exchange and Ceasefire Developments
The meeting occurred as Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday, whose frail appearances have drawn concern in Israel. The hostages—Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi, captured from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, and Or Levy, abducted from the Nova music festival—were presented on a Hamas stage flanked by armed fighters.
The three appeared pale, weak, and thinner than the 18 hostages released under a prior stage of the ceasefire agreement.
As part of the ongoing truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza, Israel has begun releasing dozens of Palestinian detainees in exchange.
