Dubai: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday called on Muslims to "stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the... wicked regime (of Israel)," Reuters reported.

This statement came after the Israeli army reported the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Khamenei stated, "The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront," according to state media.

Following Hezbollah’s confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, Iranian media reported that General Abbas Nilforoushan, a deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was also killed "next to Nasrallah" in Israeli strikes on south Beirut on Friday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian partly blamed the United States for Nasrallah's killing, noting that it has long supplied Israel with advanced weapons.

“The Americans cannot deny their complicity with the Zionists,” Pezeshkian said in a statement carried by state media.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani vowed in a post on X that Nasrallah's "path will be continued and his holy goal will be realised in the liberation of Jerusalem."

Meanwhile, two regional officials briefed by Tehran told Reuters that Khamenei has been moved to a secure location within Iran, with heightened security measures in place.

The sources indicated that Iran is in constant contact with Lebanon's Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to determine their next steps following Nasrallah’s killing.