Mojtaba Khamenei (Image: Getty)
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his first official statement, insisting his country « will not hesitate » to avenge « the blood of your martyrs, » in a chilling warning to Donald Trump. It comes after his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israel airstrike at the end of last month.
Mojtaba did not appear on camera himself, with the written statement read out by an Iranian state news anchor. The statement specifically mentionined the Minab school attack, which killed at least 165 people, mostly children. A draft report in the US yesterday found America was « likely » behind the strike. The broadcast went on to add that the Strait of Hormuz will remain blockaded in the Middle East to pressure the US and Israel. The statement also added that all US bases in the region « should immediately be closed in the region », as they will be attacked, and that Gulf Arab countries should assist in that. It also promised that any damages would be « compensated for » and if its [enemies] refused to do so, Iran will « take from its assets » or destroy them to the same extent. The words made clear that attacks on Iran’s Gulf neighbours will continue.
READ MORE: Russia ‘warned Ali Khamenei of US strike but he chose to die a martyr’
READ MORE: ‘Donald Trump’s war on Iran and forgotten casualties nobody’s talking about’
A schoolgirl holds up a poster of Mojtaba Khamenei during a protest on March 12 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The new Supreme Leader then thanked « the people of Iran from all walks of life who stood against the enemy » and called for unity in his own country.
Tributes were also paid to those who « lost their loved ones during the war. » The statement added: « The crimes against humanity and against the children… will not be ignored. »
It went on to acknowledge the strain the people of Iran had felt, saying: « We have to protect this unity and this is only possible when we are together and we find common ground. »
The statement also referenced Mojtaba’s own personal loss in the conflict, and said: « This is something that I share with the people who have lost their ones because I lost my father, I lost my my wife.
« My sister lost her child as well as the husband who has been martyred.
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Mojtaba referenced his father Ali Khamenei and the personal loss of his family in the statement (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
« But what it makes it easier for us to endure all these plights is to trust the grace of God and to know that patience is going to resolve it.
« I assure everyone that we will not ignoring the fact that we are going to revenge our martyrs. »
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded as Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reported dead at the end of last month after US-Israeli strikes.
The statement added: « It is not only about the the fact that they martyred our Supreme Leader.
« And it is not only about him, it is about every single countryman that has been killed during the recent war. »
In terms of Iran’s Gulf neighbours, the statement said: « We send a message to the leaders of the region and emphasise that we are going to have good relations with the countries around us.
Vesseld in the Strait of Hormuz continue to be targeted by missile and drone attacks (Image: ROYAL THAI NAVY/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)
« But the existence of the US bases in some of these countries and usage of those bases to attack Iran is not benefiting the region and they must be closed.
« As we said, we are not an enemy of the countries around us, and we are only targeting the bases of those Americans. »
The broadcast alluded to Iran opening other fronts in the war. However, it remains unclar what was meant by this.
Tehran appears to not be looking for wider control in the Middle East, and reportedly wants good relations with neighbouring countries, despite vowing to continue the attacks.
Donald Trump said on Sunday that the new leader « is not going to last long » if the Iranians don’t get his approval first.
The US President told ABC News: « He’s going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.
« We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it. »
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