Iran has warned it will take revenge on Donald Trump as the country’s media warns the US President will « pay the price » after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination on Saturday. Iran‘s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the killing of Khamenei signalled « an open war against Muslims, especially Shiites, in all corners of the world ».
He was quoted as saying: « The Islamic Republic of Iran considers bloodshed and revenge against the perpetrators and commanders of this crime as its legitimate duty and right, and will fulfil this great responsibility and duty with all its might. »
Iranian state TV and the state-run IRNA news agency confirmed Khamenei’s death early on Sunday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their « greatest chance » to « take back » their country.
An Iranian state TV news presenter is reported to have said while making the announcement: « Trump will pay a price that no American president in history has ever paid. Revenge is on the way. »
The supreme leader’s demise will likely throw Iran’s future into uncertainty and exacerbate already growing concerns of a broader conflict.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin described Khamenei’s killing as « a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law ».
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that the « blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable », according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency.
He said: « These actions violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations. »
Fears the conflict could spread grew on Sunday when UK Defense Minister John Healey said Iranian missile and drone strikes came within a few hundred yards of a group of 300 British military personnel in Bahrain.
He said that two missiles were even fired in the direction of Cyprus, where Britain has bases. Mr Healey told Sky News: « We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless, it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region, and that requires us to act. »
The Defence Secretary said British planes will intercept any Iranian drones and missiles they see.
Meanwhile, top diplomats from the 27 European Union nations were holding an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the situation and the next steps for the bloc.
Pope Leo XIV said he was « profoundly concerned » about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. he urged both sides to « stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss ».
At a UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, the UN chief and many countries urged a halt to attacks and a return to negotiations to prevent the conflict from expanding further.
Secretary-General António Guterres told the council that everything must be done to prevent an escalation. He warned: « The alternative is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. »
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