By Laurence Norman

The written statement attributed to Iran's new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, acknowledges political dissent inside the country and urges Iranians to put their differences aside during the conflict.

The "unity among the various segments of the nation, which typically becomes especially apparent in times of hardship, must not be compromised," he wrote, according to state media. "This will be achieved by setting aside points of disagreement."

The message was released without a video or audio recording from Khamenei.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 12, 2026 10:26 ET (14:26 GMT)