Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to avenge the killing of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that retaliation is “the demand of the nation” and would inevitably take place.
In his first public message since the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began, Mojtaba issued a written statement carried by Iranian state television. The new Supreme Leader pledged to seek justice for his father and all those killed during the recent conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
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“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” the statement said, adding that vengeance was both the will of the Iranian people and an unavoidable outcome.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28 during the early stages of the four-month conflict. Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly sustained injuries, succeeded his father as Supreme Leader on March 8 with the backing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Despite assuming Iran’s highest political and religious office, Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since the airstrike. The absence of photographs, videos or audio recordings has fuelled speculation over his health, with some Iranians calling on him to make a public appearance.
His statement comes as uncertainty continues over the future of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Although both countries have exchanged fresh attacks in recent days, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue diplomatic talks despite describing the ceasefire as effectively “over.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for 37 years, was laid to rest on Friday at one of the country’s holiest shrines following funeral ceremonies attended by thousands. His death marks the beginning of a new chapter in Iran’s leadership amid heightened regional tensions and diplomatic uncertainty.
