Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for late supreme leader's death

Iranian media on Saturday released a written message from Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in which he said that the deaths of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and others killed in the Israel-Iran war in June last year and the U. S.-Israel-Iran war in February this year must be avenged.

Taking revenge on the "criminals, whose full list is available," is a demand and will of the Iranian nation and must definitely take place, Mojtaba Khamenei said.

Ali Khamenei was killed in late February during the opening hours of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. His funeral ceremonies were held over recent days in Iran and Iraq, with his burial taking place on Friday in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

In June 2025, Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran's nuclear and military sites, triggering a 12-day war, during which the United States bombed Iran's three major nuclear facilities.

In late February this year, joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. interests in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

In mid-June, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, the two sides have exchanged fresh attacks since Tuesday night, with the United States launching multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets and Iran retaliating against U.S. military sites in the Gulf region.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, warned on Saturday that "Iran will no longer be bound to fulfill its obligations under the MoU" if Washington continues to violate the agreement.

Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for late supreme leader's death

A U.S. military delegation arrived in Lebanon on Saturday and began talks with the Lebanese military on formulating mechanisms for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from two areas within the "security zone" in southern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese military source.

The source said the talks were aimed at activating the first pilot zone within the broader "security zone." Israeli forces would withdraw from this area to allow Lebanese troops to deploy there. The first zone is set to be activated within days, with planning for additional zones also advancing.

Lebanon has told the U.S. side it will skip the next round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome until Israel completes the agreed withdrawal, according to earlier reports.

Israel, the U.S. and Lebanon wrapped up four days of ceasefire and withdrawal talks in Washington D.C. on June 26 and announced a trilateral framework agreement, which includes a pilot program for Israeli forces to pull out of two areas on both sides of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army to deploy to these areas under U.S. escort.

U.S., Lebanon discuss Israeli withdrawal from "security zone"