TEHRAN - Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, praises Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, describing him as an Islamic intellectual who has direct connection with the masses and called on both Shia and Sunni Muslims to benefit from Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership.

 
Speaking at conference on renovation and intellectual jurisprudence of Imam Khamenei on Wednesday, Nasrallah said the Leader has played three roles: “He is knowledgeable in jurisprudence and has been giving lectures in that for over 20 years... He is the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which requires great courage and qualification. Since the departure of Imam Khomeini, and amid the threats, conspiracies, and sanctions that Iran has been facing, Imam Khamenei has confronted the threats, turning them to opportunities until Iran became a regional power... Thirdly, his eminence is a great Islamic intellect, as he is one of the most significant religious references.""
 
------- All recognize Iran as regional powerhouse
 
Hezbollah’s secretary general went on to highlight the special character of Imam Khamenei as a leader, saying, “I haven't known any leader in the world who gives this much of his time for intellectual issues.”
 
Nasrallah said, “Since his youth, Imam Khamenei had wide intellectual interest. He has always been into history, biography, literature, poetry, and novels, and he even attends the annual book exhibition in Tehran and gives his opinion in every detail ...”

Hezbollah’s secretary general called on everyone, specifically Muslims, to learn more about Imam Khamenei, and pointed out that “this is not for his benefit, but for your own benefit"".

Nasrallah also emphasized that the battle against the Takfiri thought is not only through politics and media, but also through intellectualism.

Elsewhere in his speech the Hezbollah chief said ISIL initiated a battle Tuesday after attacking Hezbollah posts on Lebanon’s northeastern border, but the party will finish it.

“The battle with Daesh in Qalamoun has started,” the Hezbollah chief declared in a televised speech.

“They (Daesh) started the battle. No problem. We will finish it,” Nasrallah added.


The Hezbollah leader also lauded the Lebanese resistance fighters' ""major victories"" against al-Nusra Front on the outskirts of Lebanon’s northeastern border town of Arsal.

“In the Arsal outskirts, over the past few days, this large advance took place and this defeat was inflicted on al-Nusra Front.”