Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has delivered what is believed to be his first public statement since taking over after his father’s death – and it contained a worrying threat.
The announcement was aired on Iranian state television on Thursday, featuring a news anchor reciting the statement from the new Iranian supreme leader, accompanied by a still image of him on screen. No clarification was provided regarding the absence of Khamenei in delivering the statement himself.
Since being appointed as the successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike shortly after the onset of the war, Khamenei has not made any public appearances. Earlier this week, an Iranian source informed The Sun that Khamenei had suffered severe injuries during the attacks and was currently receiving treatment at Sina University Hospital in Tehran while in a coma.
“One or two of his legs have been amputated. His liver or stomach has also been ruptured. He is reportedly in a coma as well,” the source claimed, as reported by The Sun.
Iran’s new supreme leader
Contrarily, other Iranian sources dismissed these assertions. According to those reports, he only incurred minor injuries while taking shelter in a secure location.
In the televised address, Khamenei spoke about the ongoing conflict and vowed to retaliate.
“I assure everyone that we will not hesitate to avenge the blood of your martyrs,” the supreme leader stated, as per CBS News. “The retaliation we are planning is not confined solely to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]; rather, every individual of the nation who is martyred by the enemy represents a distinct case in the pursuit of revenge,” the statement indicated.
He also expressed gratitude towards Iranian forces: “Our heartfelt thanks go to our courageous fighters who, at a time when our nation and cherished homeland have been unjustly assaulted by the leaders of the front of arrogance, have thwarted the enemy’s advances with their formidable strikes and shattered their delusion of being able to dominate our beloved country or potentially divide it,” he concluded.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s first statement
Khamenei cautioned that Iran would pursue reparation from its adversaries and issued threats of further measures.
“Should they refuse, we will seize their assets to the extent we find suitable, and if that is unfeasible, we will obliterate their assets to a similar degree.
“The option of closing the Strait of Hormuz must undoubtedly remain in play. Research has also been undertaken regarding the potential to open additional fronts where the enemy possesses limited experience and would be extremely susceptible. These fronts will be activated if the wartime conditions persist and in line with considerations of necessity,” Khamenei stated.
In his declaration, he also recounted witnessing his father’s body following the strike that resulted in his death.
“I had the privilege of seeing his body after his martyrdom,” Khamenei remarked. “What I observed was a symbol of resilience, and I was informed that the fist of his unbroken hand had been clenched.”
As per Khamenei, several relatives of his were also lost in the same assault.