Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge for Father's Killing, Trump Threatens Total Decimation
Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public statement since taking power, demanding vengeance for the US-Israeli strike that killed his father in February and denouncing 'criminals' who will never die peacefully.
Pledge of vengeance
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran, released a written statement on Saturday, July 11, vowing to avenge the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first hours of the US-Israeli military campaign on February 28. "Our nation demands revenge and it must undoubtedly happen," the message read, as carried by state media.
We pledge to avenge the pure blood of the murdered leader and all martyrs of the two wars who fell at the hands of criminals and dishonored murderers. The names of these criminals are well known, from the highest to the lowest level, and they will go to their graves having never fulfilled their dream of dying peacefully in old age in their own beds.
The statement, his first public communication since being selected as supreme leader after his father's death, also warned that the mission does not depend on his presence. "Whether we are here or not, this task will be carried out. Soon free people around the world will each fulfill their part of this divine mission."
Four-month wait for burial
Ali Khamenei, 86, ruled Iran for nearly 37 years as both the country's top political and religious authority, having taken over in 1989. His death on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli air campaign, threw the Islamic Republic into uncertainty. The burial, held in his hometown of Mashhad in the northeast, did not take place until the night of July 9 to 10, more than four months later, because the ongoing crossfire made a public funeral too risky. Mass ceremonies had begun on July 4 and saw crowds chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, with a banner in Tehran reading "kill Trump."
Mojtaba Khamenei, injured in the same airstrike that killed his father, has not appeared publicly since the attack and did not attend the funeral. The statement marks his first acknowledgment of the burial.
- Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes, first day of military campaign
- Mass funeral ceremonies begin across Iran
- Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad, his hometown
- Mojtaba Khamenei issues first public statement, vowing revenge
Escalating US-Iran tensions
Relations between Washington and Tehran have deteriorated sharply in the past week. Both sides have accused each other of violating a preliminary ceasefire agreement intended to end the conflict, and new attacks have been reported. US President Donald Trump declared the truce over, and after Israeli media reported alleged Iranian assassination plots against him, he threatened year-long strikes.
Total decimation and destruction of all areas of Iran.
The exchange follows months of volatility since the war began. The US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, killing Ali Khamenei on the first day of the campaign. In recent days, Trump's rhetoric has hardened alongside Iran's calls for retribution.
Diplomatic back-channel still open
Despite the fiery rhetoric, the Trump administration insists that negotiations continue. US officials told CBS and the BBC that Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved in talks mediated by Oman, focusing on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-fifth of the world's daily oil cargoes pass through the strait, and a prolonged closure would send energy markets into turmoil.
The White House maintains that diplomacy remains possible even as military confrontation intensifies, though neither side has confirmed a new date for formal talks. The back-channel signals that both countries are still seeking a way to de-escalate even while issuing threats.
