Iran's Khamenei says anti-Israel US campus protesters are 'on right side of history'

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an open letter extended his support to anti-Israel protesters on US college campuses on Wednesday (May 29) and said that they are “on the right side of history.”

“Dear university students in the United States of America, you are standing on the right side of history,” wrote the 85-year-old radical cleric on X. 

“You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honourable struggle in the face of your government’s ruthless pressure – which openly supports Zionists,” the Iranian supreme leader added. 

Khamenei, who is the Islamic Republic of Iran's highest-ranking political and religious authority, appreciated the “support & solidarity” which was extended by some “professors” to the student protesters and called it a “consequential development” for the anti-Israel movement. 

“I too empathise with you young people, and value your perseverance,” Khamenei wrote. 

The Iranian leader further offered some “advice” to the student protesters. “Dear university students in the US, my advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran,” wrote Khamenei.

Khamenei had earlier slammed the US government and its allies for not taking stern steps against Israel and said that the response of the US government is “more hypocritical than real”.

“The U.S. govt and its allies refused to even frown upon this state terrorism and ongoing oppression. Today, some remarks by the US govt regarding the horrific crimes taking place in Gaza are more hypocritical than real. #Rafah,” he wrote on X.

A profile named "End of Wokeness", reacting to Khamenei's open letter, wrote: “Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that the Iranian Supreme Leader would be thanking a bunch of blue-haired atheists at Columbia.”

Meanwhile, Republican Brian Mast wrote, “If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history.”

The police in the United States have arrested more than 1,000 college students since mid-April for participating in anti-Israel protests which spread to more than 25 campuses in the United States - from Columbia University in New York to the University of California, Los Angeles.

Many encampments were seen at Ivy League and state school demonstrations after the first “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” started at Columbia University last month.