Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that the country will seek revenge against the United States and Israel over the killing of his father and former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on February 28 during the opening phase of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
In a written statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Mojtaba Khamenei said avenging those killed in the conflict had become a national obligation.
He vowed that Iran would retaliate for the deaths of his father and others who lost their lives during the two wars, insisting that the country’s response was unavoidable.
The statement was released as Iran concluded several days of funeral ceremonies held in honour of the late Supreme Leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the airstrike that killed his father. According to U.S. claims, he also sustained serious injuries during the attack.
His comments came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he had already authorised plans for a massive military response if Iran ever succeeded in assassinating him.
In an interview, Trump said Iran had considered him a target for years and warned that any successful attempt on his life would trigger an unprecedented military retaliation.
The U.S. president, however, noted that there was no fresh intelligence suggesting an immediate assassination plot, despite maintaining that the threat had existed for a long time.
As tensions continue to rise between both countries, diplomatic efforts are still underway to prevent further escalation. Reports indicate that a delegation from Qatar has visited Iran in an effort to strengthen mediation efforts between the two sides.
Although Trump has said negotiations with Iran will continue, he also described the talks as largely unproductive.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, insisted that Tehran has honoured its commitments under the memorandum of understanding signed by both sides last month, stressing that lasting progress can only be achieved through mutual compliance.
