Dr. Homayoun Sameh, the representative of the Jewish community in the Iranian parliament, published a letter of condolence following the “unjust death” of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated on Saturday. He blamed the “Zionist regime” for the killing and wrote that it had sparked “a heavy wave of sorrow and grief in the heart of the great Iranian nation and among all the free peoples of the world.”
Sameh, who routinely expresses unequivocal support for Iran’s ayatollah regime, added that “the Iranian Jewish community sends its sincere condolences to the noble Iranian nation, to his family members and to all supporters of the Islamic Revolution over the severe and painful loss.”
He also wrote that: “Dear Iran mourns the passing of a wise, patient and compassionate leader — a personality who dedicated his life to the path of the country’s independence, honor and pride, and who repeatedly emphasized national unity, empathy and peaceful coexistence among the followers of the divine religions.”
The Jewish lawmaker in Tehran went on to write that “the loss of this great man will be a deep and lasting wound in the soul of the Iranian nation. At the same time, the bright and steadfast path that this dear man walked will never cease, and the great nation of Iran will continue his glorious way with firm determination. Without a doubt, the memory and name of that senior saint will preserve the future path of this radiant land like a shining lamp. In these sorrowful moments, we ask Almighty God to elevate the rank and bestow divine mercy upon that dear saint, and grant patience and peace to the great nation of Iran.”
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At the end of his letter, he sharply attacked Israel and the United States: “The boiling anger over this barbaric act of the American-Zionist enemy, which once again exposed its barbaric nature more openly than ever, will undoubtedly turn into a storm and cause the arrogant nation to regret its actions.”
A month ago, Sameh struck a different tone. In remarks to Iranian media, he blamed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the country’s ills. He said, “Protest is a legal right of the people, but creating such anger leads to bad things in Iran.” He added, “I believed in President Pezeshkian. I voted for Mr. Pezeshkian, but the situation that was created happened because of him.”