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[POLITICS] · Iran, United States, Israel · 100 sources

Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Promises Revenge for Father's Killing

Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for 37 years, was killed on 28 February in a joint U.S.–Israeli airstrike that also wounded his son Mojtaba Khamenei. The death triggered a week‑long funeral procession across Iran and Iraq, drawing millions of mourners in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, Najaf and Karbala. In a written statement read on state television, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed that “the nation demands revenge” and pledged to avenge his father’s “pure blood” and the blood of all martyrs of the two wars. He said the perpetrators – described as “criminal, dishonorable killers” – would be held accountable and that the retaliation would occur “whether we are present or not.” The message also thanked citizens for their massive participation and asserted that Iran would preserve the ideological legacy of Ali Khamenei.

The vow was accompanied by heightened rhetoric toward the United States and Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to have issued standing military orders to strike Iran if threatened, while Iranian officials warned of continued attacks on U.S. interests, including shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides have accused the other of violating a recently signed cease‑fire memorandum, and skirmishes have continued in the region. The statements mark a sharp escalation in Iran‑U.S. tensions and raise concerns about a broader regional conflict.

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