Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to avenge the killing of his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, amid escalating tensions with the United States.
In a written statement released on Saturday, Mojtaba Khamenei said carrying out revenge was inevitable and would not depend on the presence of any particular Iranian leader. He also claimed Iran had identified individuals it intends to target in response.
His comments came hours after US President Donald Trump warned that any attempt to assassinate him would trigger a massive American military response against Iran. Trump said the US was prepared to launch overwhelming force if such a threat materialised.
The exchange of threats comes as efforts continue to rescue a fragile peace agreement reached after months of conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance. Although Trump has declared the ceasefire effectively over, Qatar and Pakistan are among the countries still pushing for renewed diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained that Tehran has honoured its commitments under the recent agreement and said any lasting deal would require both sides to comply with their obligations.
A major obstacle to negotiations remains the Strait of Hormuz. Iran continues to insist on controlling access to the strategic waterway after closing it during the war, while the United States is demanding unrestricted passage for commercial shipping.
Araghchi arrived in Oman on Saturday for talks on the future of the strait, as reports suggested Washington had given Tehran a deadline to stop attacks on commercial vessels.
The latest escalation followed allegations that Iran targeted three commercial ships in the Gulf, prompting the United States to launch airstrikes on dozens of Iranian targets. Iranian authorities said the attacks killed 17 people and injured 115 others.
Despite the renewed tensions, regional mediators continue efforts to prevent a wider conflict, while Iranian officials insist the country is prepared to defend itself and will not accept any settlement that amounts to surrender.
