Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued his first public statement four days after a deadly strike reportedly killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several members of their family.
The statement, which was read by a news anchor on Iranian state television, marked Mojtaba Khamenei’s first communication since the attack that triggered the latest escalation in the region. The new leader did not appear on screen or deliver the message personally, a development that has intensified speculation about his condition. Israeli intelligence sources have suggested that he may have been injured during the initial strikes that began the conflict.
In the message, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed that Iran would respond decisively to the killings. He declared that the country would not hesitate to seek justice for what he described as the blood of its martyrs.
“We will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs,” the statement said, adding that every Iranian killed by the nation’s enemies would be treated as an individual case in a broader campaign of retaliation.
Khamenei also revealed the extent of the personal losses suffered by his family during the attack. According to the statement, he saw his father’s body after the strike and confirmed that several close relatives were also among those killed. The victims reportedly include his wife, one of his sisters, his niece, and the husband of another sister.
The new leader also condemned an attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, where more than 165 people, including many children, were reportedly killed during the early hours of the conflict. He described the incident as one of the most painful moments of the crisis.
Khamenei stated that Iran’s response so far represents only a small part of the country’s planned retaliation. He warned that further actions could follow as the conflict unfolds.
In a direct message to Gulf nations, he also called for the closure of United States military bases in the region. According to the statement, he claimed that the security assurances provided by Washington to its allies were “nothing more than a lie.”
The statement signals a potentially deeper escalation in tensions across the Middle East as Iran’s new leadership begins to shape its response to the unfolding crisis. Regional observers say the coming days may determine whether the conflict widens or moves toward diplomatic engagement.
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