Key facts
- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike.
- Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father and stated vengeance is the "will of the nation."
- The vow follows funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei and amid high tensions between Iran and the U.S.
- US President Donald Trump threatened severe retaliation if Iran attempts to assassinate him.
- Recent US strikes on Iran resulted in 17 deaths and 115 injuries.
- Mediators are engaged in discussions in Oman to revive talks.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has called for revenge for the death of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. In a statement read on state TV, Mojtaba Khamenei declared that vengeance was the "will of the nation" and that those responsible would be held accountable.
The vow comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S., following a series of exchanges that have strained a recent ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning, stating that any Iranian plans to assassinate him would result in the U.S. "decimat[ing] and destroy[ing] all areas" of Iran in response.
Iran's Health Ministry reported that 17 people were killed and 115 injured in recent U.S. strikes targeting approximately 90 locations across the country. The U.S. Treasury Department has also announced new sanctions against 13 individuals and entities linked to Mojtaba Khamenei. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Oman for mediation talks aimed at reviving discussions, following reports that Iran attributed the attacks on commercial tankers to a rogue internal group.