Sayyed Khamenei meets top Hamas leaders in Tehran

Tehran- Iran's Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei praised the Palestinian Resistance during a meeting with a Hamas delegation, stating that they had defeated the Israeli occupation and the United States in the war on Gaza. He also hailed the ceasefire agreement as a "great achievement." 

Sayyed Khamenei received Hamas Shura Council chairman Mohammad Ismail Darwish, as well as Palestinian group's acting leader Khalil al-Hayya and other members of the group's political bureau in Tehran on Saturday.

Hamas's Shura Council, the key consultative body responsible for electing its politburo, is on a regional tour led by Darwish and his delegation. The tour includes stops in Egypt, Turkiye, and now Tehran.

Sayyed Khamenei called on the Palestinian Resistance to persevere, stressing it is "necessary to plan for cultural works and continue the current path of PR works alongside military affairs and the reconstruction of Gaza."

"The people of Gaza became an example for all those who have their hearts in resistance," he said.

The leader described faith as the main "asymmetric weapon" of the Resistance front against the enemy, adding, "It is because of this faith that the Islamic Republic and the Resistance front do not feel weak against the enemies."

Sayyed Khamenei also praised Hamas negotiators, saying their deal forcing Israel to halt its brutal war on Gaza and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners is a "great achievement".

The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released, and so far, the agreement has held. However, US President Donald Trump's proposal to clear Gaza of its inhabitants and take over the territory is creating hiccups amid widespread denunciation around the world.

The delegation, which also included top Hamas official Nizar Awadallah, presented Sayyed Khamenei a report on the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

"We have come to meet your Excellency today while we are all proud and this great victory is a common victory for us and the Islamic Republic," Hayya said.

The Shura Council is the main consultative body of Hamas that elects the movement's top decision making body, called politburo. 

Sayyed Khamenei also touched on the recent US threats against the Islamic Republic, saying they "have no effect on the mentality of the nation and our officials, as well as the country's activists and youth," according to Al Mayadeen TV network.

Earlier touching on nuclear talks with the US, Sayyed Khamenei stated that experience has demonstrated that negotiations with the US do not contribute to resolving Iran's issues.

His comments came during a meeting with Air Force commanders in Tehran, just hours after the US implemented its first sanctions following President Donald Trump's order to reinstate his "maximum pressure" strategy on Iran.

"Negotiations with the US have no effect on solving the country's problems, we must get this right," Sayyed Khamenei said, adding, "They should not pretend to us that if we sit at the negotiating table with that government, the problems will be solved. No; negotiating with the US will not solve any problems. The reason? Experience!" 

Sayyed Khamenei reflected on the 2015 nuclear deal, noting how Iran and six other countries, including the US, reached an agreement after two years of negotiations, only for Trump to later abandon it.

He said, "In this treaty, the Iranian side was very generous, giving many concessions to the other side. But the Americans did not implement the same treaty," adding, "The same person who is in office now tore up the treaty. He said he would tear it down and he did; they didn't abide by it."