Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, vowed to avenge his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei said on the 11th (local time) via his Telegram account, "I pledge revenge for the pure blood of you (Father) and all the martyrs who were sacrificed in these two wars from the vicious and disgraceful murderers," adding, "This revenge is the demand of our people and must be carried out."
He also said, "Even the criminals whose list alone is vast must carry to their graves the vain hope that they will meet their end comfortably in their own beds," adding, "They must clearly understand that this revenge is unrelated to whether I or other senior officials survive." He continued, "Regardless of whether we exist or not, this will surely be realized," and "Before long, free citizens around the world will each join in this sacred mission."
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public once since succeeding as supreme leader. He reportedly did not appear even at his father's funeral held over the past six days. He was said to have been wounded in the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.