Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei vows to avenge father Ali Khamenei's death

Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday pledged to avenge the death of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei, declaring that retribution against the United States and Israel was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" be carried out. The comments were issued in a statement broadcast during funeral proceedings for the late supreme leader in Mashhad, according to Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB.

Speaking at the Imam Reza Shrine, Mojtaba Khamenei characterized the assassination as part of an ongoing pattern of aggression. "We pledge to avenge your innocent blood and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and dishonorable murderers," he said, referring to the American and Israeli strikes that began on February 28.

Funeral concludes

Ali Khamenei was interred Thursday at the shrine in Iran's northeastern city, concluding a week of mourning following his death in the opening wave of US-Israeli attacks. The supreme leader was killed in strikes that began on February 28 and triggered Iranian retaliatory operations, according to state media reports.

Tensions persist

Tehran and Washington signed a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding in June aimed at halting hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though the two sides exchanged strikes this week over commercial traffic through the strategic chokepoint. US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to launch "thousands of missiles" at Iran following an Israeli intelligence report alleging a new Iranian plot against his life, according to The Wall Street Journal.