Ayatollah Tells American College Students They're on 'Right Side of History'

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his support for pro-Palestine protesters on U.S. college campuses, telling them they were "on the right side of history."

In an open letter on X (formerly Twitter), Khamenei, who is known for forcefully suppressing any kind of dissent within his country, praises the American students for their "defense of the Palestinian people" and criticizes the U.S. government's support for Israel.

"You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your government's ruthless pressure – which openly supports Zionists," the aging leader said.

Khamenei described Israel's actions as "genocide and apartheid," urging the students to continue their actions against what he termed the "brutal Zionist regime"​​.

"I too empathize with you, young people, and value your perseverance," Khamenei added.

His letter is part of a broader attempt to align the student protests with what he calls the "Resistance Front," a coalition that includes Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

The fact that college professors have backed campus protesters, he said, is "a significant and consequential development."

In April, Pro-Palestinian protests erupted across college campuses in the United States, driven by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Demonstrations occurred at nearly 140 campuses across the country.

The protests included sit-ins, encampments, and walkouts, with students demanding that their universities divest from companies associated with Israel and calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. As a result, more than 2,000 students were arrested at various institutions, and several commencement ceremonies were canceled.

Khamenei's endorsement led many to question whether the student protesters in the US were aware of his track record.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's commented on X, "When you've won the Ayatollah, you've lost America."​​

In 2024, the Iranian government, under the leadership of Khamenei, has continued to implement severe oppressive measures against protesters, particularly those advocating for women's rights, in the regime's crackdown on widespread protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

A United Nations Human Rights Council report, released in March, found that Iranian authorities have increased their crackdown, particularly targeting women who defy compulsory hijab laws. Reports indicate that women are facing police violence, arrests, fines, and even death penalties.

Another report from Human Rights Watch denounced that Iranian courts, particularly revolutionary courts, regularly fall far short of providing fair trials and use confessions likely obtained under torture as evidence in court.

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