By Riffat Kausar
Snn News Finland
Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to avenge the killing of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a written statement broadcast on Iranian state television on Saturday.
The message, read out during the broadcast, framed retaliation against the United States and Israel as both a national and religious duty.
Leader Pledges to Target “Criminal” Killers
Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran would hold those responsible accountable for the deaths of his father and other officials killed since the war began.
He described the country’s “vengeance” as “inevitable” and vowed to pursue what he called the “criminal and disgraced killers” behind the attacks.
The statement follows a week of large state funeral processions for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28, an attack that marked the start of the war between Iran and the two countries. Iranian officials say his wife and daughter-in-law were also killed in the strike.
Mourners Chant Slogans Against Trump and Netanyahu
Throughout the funeral ceremonies, mourners carried banners and chanted slogans calling for the deaths of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One banner reportedly read “We will kill Trump.”
Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly wounded in the strike that killed his father, has not appeared in public since the attack.
Iranian security officials are said to have denied his request to attend the funeral over fears of an assassination attempt, and he has communicated with the public only through written statements.
Trump Responds With Warning of “1,000 Missiles”
The revenge pledge drew a sharp response from Washington. President Trump has warned the US would “completely decimate” Iran, saying “1,000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded” should Tehran attempt to assassinate him.
The exchange has deepened tensions just weeks after a fragile ceasefire took hold between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition, raising fresh doubts about whether the truce will hold.
Standoff Over Strait of Hormuz Continues
The situation remains volatile. The United States has reportedly demanded that Iran halt attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas exports, while Tehran has denied seeking renewed negotiations with Washington.
With Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s authority still consolidating and his public absence fueling speculation over his condition, analysts are watching closely for signs of how the new Supreme Leader intends to translate his revenge pledge into action and whether renewed US-Iran talks remain possible.
US President Donald Trump warns Iran against retaliation amid rising tensions
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