Lead

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to exact revenge on the United States and Israel for the killing of his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, according to a written statement broadcast on state television on Saturday. The vow came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated, with US President Donald Trump warning of further missile attacks and both sides trading threats over the ongoing conflict.

The statement, Khamenei's first public message since his father's funeral, was carried by state media and read out during a period of heightened rhetoric. "Revenge is the demand of the nation and must certainly be carried out," the statement said. Khamenei also said Iran had compiled a list of individuals to be targeted, adding that the vow of vengeance was "inevitable" and did not depend on his personal existence or that of other officials.

Coverage comparison

Reports from multiple outlets agree on the core facts: the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father, has not been seen in public since the strikes, and his recent statement is his first since the funeral.

Deutsche Welle and Dawn reported that Khamenei's vow was made in a statement broadcast on state television on Saturday. The Hindu, in a detailed analysis, described the February 28 strikes as a "decapitation strike" that killed more than 40 senior Iranian officials, including Khamenei, IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour, and Defence Council chief Ali Shamkhani. The Hindu also noted that US and Israeli officials had anticipated the strike would trigger the collapse of the Iranian state, a prediction that did not materialize.

All sources indicate that the conflict has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely closed since the war began. US officials have demanded that Iran make a public statement declaring the strait open and guaranteeing safe passage for ships, but Tehran has resisted, insisting on maintaining control over the route and charging ships that use it.

Key claims

  • Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for his father's killing, as reported by Dawn, Deutsche Welle, and The Hindu.
  • The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, according to multiple sources.
  • Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a claim carried by Dawn and Deutsche Welle.
  • US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran, as reported by Deutsche Welle and Dawn.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman for talks on Saturday, according to Deutsche Welle and Dawn.

Escalating threats and diplomatic efforts

In the hours before Khamenei's statement, Trump escalated his own threats, posting on his Truth Social platform that any attempt to assassinate him would lead the United States to "completely decimate" Iran. He also declared the ceasefire over, though he said the US would continue negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Muscat, Oman, on Saturday for talks on the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media as reported by Deutsche Welle. The talks came a day after Qatari mediators separately traveled to Iran, as reported by Dawn. The diplomatic efforts are aimed at salvaging the interim deal that had been brokered to end the war, which has been strained by repeated crossfire in the region.

Trump's threats followed the funeral of Ali Khamenei, during which crowds called for the killing of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by Dawn. Trump's comments also came after senior US officials demanded that Iran publicly guarantee the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Perspectives

Iran: Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei frames the vow of revenge as an inevitable national demand, stating that it is not contingent on any individual's survival. The Iranian government insists on retaining control of the Strait of Hormuz and has not yielded to US demands to open it unilaterally.

United States: President Donald Trump and senior officials have threatened further military action and demand that Iran make a public statement reopening the Strait of Hormuz and guaranteeing ship safety. Trump has declared the ceasefire over while expressing willingness to continue negotiations.