Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged to pursue revenge against U.S. officials following the 1981 assassination of his father, Ayatollah Hassan Modaress, while condemning President Trump’s recent threats to “completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran,” according to reports. The remarks were delivered amid a fresh deterioration in bilateral relations, despite a temporary ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month.
People raise fists at a farewell ceremony for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.
Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Key Facts
Khamenei declared that “revenge is the demand” of Iran and emphasized that the retaliation will target “criminals, whose names are known from top to bottom.” While he did not explicitly name Trump, the statement came after the U.S. president heightened rhetoric by claiming in a Truth Social post that “1,000 missiles” aimed at Iran would be “followed by thousands more” if the Iranian government attempts to assassinate him.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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