Israel was described as a "cancerous tumor" by the supreme leader of Iran during Friday prayer celebrations honoring the late Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The semiofficial Fars News Agency has reported that Iran commemorated the anniversary of the 1989 death of Khomeini during Friday prayers in Tehran. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his sermon reflected on the late cleric's strong stance against Israel.

The supreme leader further said, "Israel is a cancerous tumor."

It was also reported that Khamenei lashed out at Israel for its policy regarding the blockade on Gaza. The Israeli military stormed a Turkish-flagged vessel Monday thought to be delivering humanitarian supplies to Gaza, killing several activists during the raid.

The ruling cleric said, "The attack on the Gaza aid convoy showed how barbaric the Zionist regime really is."

His supporters should look to the late Khomeini's teachings in light of the Israeli incident, said Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in a speech late on Thursday.

Hezbollah's al-Manar quoted Nasrallah as saying, "(Khomeini) revived the culture of jihad and rise in the face of tyrants to reject the humiliation of man." (With Inputs from Agencies)