Iran’s Supreme Leader ​Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said ‌on Saturday (July 11, 2026) that ​avenging his ⁠slain predecessor and father was “the demand of ‌the nation” and “must certainly” take ‌place, according ‌to ⁠a written ⁠message released on his Telegram account.

Mr. Khamenei issued the ​message on ‌the occasion of funeral ceremonies for his father, Ayatollah ‌Ali Khamenei, ​held months after he was killed ⁠in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on ‌February 28.

“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all ‌the martyrs of these ​two wars from the criminal ⁠and disgraced killers,” Mr. Khamenei ⁠said in the message.