TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday that avenging the killing of his predecessor and father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was “the demand of the nation” and “must certainly” take place.
Khamenei issued the statement in a written message released on his Telegram account during funeral ceremonies held for his father, who was killed months earlier in US-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,” Khamenei said in his message.
Iran judiciary chief vows legal action against US, Israel over alleged war crimes
Iran’s Judiciary Chief Hojjatoleslam Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said the United States and Israel must be held accountable for what he described as war crimes committed against Iran. He said judicial authorities were determined to pursue legal action against those responsible.
According to ISNA, speaking at a meeting with international lawyers and legal experts in Tehran, Ejei said, “War crimes have been committed against our country and our people by the United States and the Zionist regime.”
He added, “We are determined to prosecute and punish war criminals. Criminals must be punished and compensated in proportion to the crime they have committed.”
ISNA reported that the meeting brought together Iranian judicial officials and foreign legal experts to discuss documenting alleged violations during the recent conflict and exploring legal options through international courts.
Ejei said Iranian institutions, including the Attorney General’s Office and the Judiciary’s international affairs bodies, were committed to pursuing the cases. He called the efforts a new chapter in the prosecution and punishment of war criminals.
He also urged international lawyers to cooperate in seeking accountability, saying that “the voice of truth and seeking the truth will not be silenced.”
According to ISNA, Ejei further accused the United States and Israel of committing crimes beyond Iran, alleging that “international criminals, led by the leaders of the American and Zionist regimes, have committed crimes in every corner of the world.”
He called for documenting such actions for future generations and said Iran would pursue those responsible.
“We will not forget the bloodlust of our martyred Imam and we will pursue and punish international criminals with strength and strength, and the perpetrators should be sure that we will recover the damages inflicted on the Iranian nation from them,” he said.
Trump warns of missile response if Iran attempts assassination
US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to launch thousands of missiles at Iran if Tehran attempted to assassinate him.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran,” adding that thousands more would immediately follow if the Iranian government acted on what he described as threats to assassinate or attempt to assassinate the sitting US president.
He said orders had already been issued and claimed that the US military was “ready, willing, and able” for a one-year period, with the possibility of extension, “to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran.”
Trump had earlier declared that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”, but Washington agreed to continue talks that the US said were requested by Tehran.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating that Iran had developed a new plan to assassinate Trump.
In June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their war, which began in late February, and reaching a lasting peace agreement.
The agreement called for an immediate halt to fighting on all fronts, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, both sides exchanged attacks this week over the movement of commercial traffic through the strait. The US carried out strikes on targets in Iran, after which Tehran retaliated by targeting US assets across the region.
US military team to visit Lebanon for ceasefire implementation
A US military delegation is expected to travel to Lebanon in the coming days to assist in implementing a framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a media report on Friday.
Citing two senior Lebanese officials, the Financial Times reported that a delegation from the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) would arrive in Beirut ahead of technical talks between Lebanon and Israel scheduled to take place in Rome next week.
The discussions will focus on implementing a US-backed framework agreement reached on June 26, which includes a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Anadolu that CENTCOM was “coordinating closely” with both countries at technical and logistical levels but did not comment on the reported visit.
“We have moved to the implementation stage of the Framework. The first pilot zone will launch in a matter of days, and further pilot zones are being mapped out and planned,” the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.
The spokesperson added that the US would soon begin outreach to international partners to assist the Lebanese government in restoring sovereignty in these areas and across the country.
CENTCOM did not comment on the report.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday that the death toll from Israel’s assault had risen to 4,321, with 12,204 people injured since March 2.
Israeli forces continue to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, including some locations held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 war. During the latest offensive, Israeli troops advanced more than 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory.
Iran says UAE must answer for role in US aggression
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Friday that a newly published US government document amounted to an official acknowledgement of the United Arab Emirates’ active role in what he described as US military aggression against Iran.
Writing on X, Gharibabadi said the US Department of Commerce had issued a document easing export control regulations and upgrading the UAE’s export status in recognition of its support for the military action against Iran.
He described the move as Washington’s official admission and said the document placed “direct international responsibility and legal consequences” on Abu Dhabi.
“The UAE must be held accountable,” Gharibabadi said.
Saudi crown prince and Trump discuss Iran talks
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Friday, during which they discussed regional developments, including negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The SPA reported that the call covered bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States and ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields.
The two leaders also discussed several regional and international issues and exchanged views on them, the report said.
The conversation included a review of current regional developments, including US-Iran talks.
The two sides also stressed the importance of ensuring maritime security and the safety of navigation routes, while supporting efforts aimed at achieving peace, security and stability in the region.