Trump vs Mojtaba: Iran vows 'revenge' for Khamenei death as US readies '1,000 missiles'

Signalling that tensions between the US and Iran are flaring up once again, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has stated that retaliation against the US and Israel for his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death earlier this year is both required and inevitable.

In remarks distributed through the country’s state-affiliated Fars news agency, he said his nation demands vengeance and vowed that it would happen.

Also read: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei laid to rest as US-Iran tensions escalate

The 56-year-old leader, who took over the mantle in March, days after his 86-year-old father, many other members of the family and close aides were eliminated in the US-Israeli strikes on February 28, spoke on the matter hours after US President Donald Trump warned Iran against targeting him.

'Will take revenge for your pure blood'

“Revenge is the demand of our nation and must certainly be carried out,” a statement carried by Fars news agency and attributed to Mojtaba read.

Speaking as if directly to his late father, the Supreme Leader said in the statement, “We will take revenge for your pure blood and the blood of all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers.”

“These criminals, whose names from top to bottom are known and documented, will take their wish for a peaceful death in old age and in their beds with them to the grave. They must know that this matter does not depend on my existence or that of other officials.”

According to the statement, the promised retaliation will happen “soon”, regardless of whether the current leadership survives to see it or not.

Mojtaba, who himself was also injured in the air strikes, has not been seen in public since taking over the leadership role. He was not seen even during the week-long funerals of his slain father held in his home town of Mashhad, a holy city in north-eastern Iran. Public mourning ceremonies also took place in five cities in Iran and Iraq.

'1000 missiles aimed at Iran'

The supreme leader’s words came hours after Trump cautioned against forceful retaliation against Iran if it tried to assassinate him. On Friday (July 10), he said he had asked the US military to remain prepared to initiate strikes against the West Asian nation if the latter targeted his life. One thousand missiles are “locked and loaded aimed at Iran”, he said in a Truth Social post.

Also read: Trump says Iran deal ‘over’ as US, Tehran trade strikes amid Khamenei funeral

"1000 Missiles are Locked and ?Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to ?assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!," he said.

“Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and ?able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, ?to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran.”

Informed sources said Israeli intelligence officials had told the US about possible attempts on Trump’s life. An Israeli source, along with an American official, noted that these concerns arise from aspirations held by hardline factions within Iran's leadership. However, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the intelligence assessments stated that there's no evidence of a specific, unified assassination scheme currently in motion — instead, they described it as a persistent, fragmented discussion among different Iranian figures who have expressed such intentions.

Also read: Trump threatens harsher Iran strikes as Strait of Hormuz traffic grinds to near halt

Renewed military strikes and stern statements from either side have put the focus on the recently signed peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between them.

The senior Khamenei's burial, covered by Iranian news agency IRNA, took place following a series of strikes traded between Iran and the US — an escalation that risks unraveling the preliminary agreement meant to end the war.

According to an Al Jazeera report, amid the threats, the Americans claimed that a round of talks was imminent. The Iranian side denied it. It also cited sources in the Iranian foreign ministry denying claims that Iran had requested the US to restart negotiations.

Iran envoy to UN warns

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, stated that Tehran will cease adhering to the MoU with Washington if American strikes persist, Al Jazeera reported. He accused the US of committing a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter, pointing to attacks carried out on Iranian islands and cities in the south of the country earlier this week.

All eyes on Oman talks over Hormuz

Meanwhile, eyes were on Saturday’s meetings between officials of Iran and Oman over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, which remains the focus of the ongoing conflict and the negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is currently in Oman to ensure safe passage through the strait. The US was also keeping a close watch on developments in Oman. It expressed hope that Iran would publicly announce an end to strikes on commercial vessels in the key sea route.

Meanwhile, US officials also told the media that any deal on Iran's nuclear programme would require Tehran to turn over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That's something Iran has repeatedly refused.

If the US does not reach a deal with Iran to turn over its nuclear material, it has military options to ensure that it remains buried underground forever, the officials said. They did not detail those options.

(With agency inputs)