Mojtaba Khamenei pledges revenge for father Syed Ali Khamenei

Khamenei said Iran remained committed to avenging the deaths of his father and those martyred during the recent conflict

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to avenge the killing of his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, declaring that retribution is “the nation’s demand” and “will certainly be carried out.”

In his first televised message following the funeral of Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran remained committed to avenging the deaths of his father and those martyred during the recent conflict. He said the mission extended beyond Iran, calling on what he described as “free people around the world” to support the effort.

“We pledge to take revenge for the blood of our martyred leader and all those who lost their lives in the two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said in a written statement broadcast by Iranian state television.

According to media reports citing senior sources, Mojtaba Khamenei sustained facial and other injuries during an attack on Feb. 28. The reports said he has not appeared in public since assuming the position of supreme leader on March 8.

The latest remarks come amid renewed tensions despite the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, brokered with Pakistan’s mediation, which had ended hostilities between Iran and the United States after fighting that began on Feb. 28.

However, both sides resumed attacks in recent days before Pakistan and Qatar reportedly renewed diplomatic efforts to restore the ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has said negotiations with Iran will continue despite the renewed violence.