Iran's Supreme Leader has declared he will take revenge on the US and Israel, who jointly assassinated his father, and confirmed that a list of targeted individuals has already been prepared.
On Saturday, 11 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Iranian authorities released a statement from Mojtaba Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, pledging to avenge the US and Israel for the assassination of Ali Khamenei, his father and the previous Supreme Leader. This came just hours after Donald Trump threatened to annihilate Iran if any attempt was made on his life.
Both sides have escalated their rhetoric sharply following last week’s retaliatory weapon strikes, undermining a temporary ceasefire aimed at ending the conflict that erupted on 28 Feb 2026 after the US and Israel collaborated to attack Iran, killing Ali Khamenei and several senior officials.
Trump declared that their ceasefire agreement had ended, while intermediary nations sought to salvage diplomatic efforts. Iranian media reported that a delegation from Qatar visited Iran on Friday.
However, on Saturday, Iranian authorities released Mojtaba Khamenei’s first statement after his father’s funeral on Thursday, 9 Jul 2026 GMT+7, declaring, “Revenge is the will of our nation, and it will inevitably happen.”
“This does not depend on my presence or that of any other officials. Whether we are here or not, this will happen,” Mojtaba Khamenei stated, adding that Iran has already compiled a list of targets.
Just hours before Iran’s statement, Donald Trump posted on his platform Truth Social that any assassination attempt on him would lead the US to “completely destroy Iran.”
“One thousand missiles are locked on and ready to be fired at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to follow immediately if the Iranian government acts on their public threats to assassinate or attempt to assassinate the sitting President of the United States — which is me!”
“The orders have been given, and the US military is ready, committed, and capable within one year, possibly longer, to destroy and obliterate every area of Iran.”
Trump also said negotiations with Iran would continue but criticized them as a “waste of time.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that Tehran has fulfilled its part of the agreement after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding last month.
The US and Iranian delegations have held one direct round of talks in Switzerland since signing the memorandum, plus indirect talks in Qatar. However, there has been no sign of diplomatic progress, and recent clashes have further diminished hopes.
A major obstacle to a final agreement is the future of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed to commercial shipping during the war in response to US and Israeli attacks.
Iran insists on controlling ship traffic and has announced plans to charge fees, stating there will be no return to free navigation as before the war. Washington strongly rejects this, and under international law, states cannot impose tolls on straits used for international navigation.
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Source:cna