Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public message on Thursday after assuming the country’s top religious and political post. In the statement, he warned of revenge for the killing of his father and signalled that Iran would continue its confrontation with its enemies.

The message came days after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989. He was killed on February 28 in an air strike during the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran. The attack also killed several senior security officials and members of the Khamenei family.

Iranian officials and state television earlier said Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the same strike. However, there is still uncertainty about his current location and health condition.

Continued Questions About His Health

Iranian state television introduced the message by announcing:
“The first message of the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, his excellency Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hossein Khamenei!”

Despite the announcement, the statement did little to clarify speculation about his health.

The message was not delivered by Khamenei himself. There was no video, audio recording, or new photograph of him speaking. Instead, a news anchor read the long statement on television.

The broadcast showed an old archive photo of Khamenei along with a computer-generated flag of the Islamic Republic. This presentation added to the uncertainty surrounding his physical condition and whereabouts.

Strong Call for Revenge

In his statement, Khamenei made it clear that Iran was not looking for reconciliation with its enemies. Instead, he stressed the importance of revenge for the attack that killed his father and wife.

“A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities,” Khamenei said.

“We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property,” he added.

He specifically mentioned a deadly strike on a school in the city of Minab in southern Iran. Iranian authorities claim the attack was carried out by the United States and resulted in the deaths of 150 people.

Khamenei described the incident as a “crime the enemy deliberately committed”.

However, a preliminary investigation by the US military found that a missile struck the school due to a targeting mistake, according to a report by The New York Times.

Threats of Wider Regional Impact

Khamenei also repeated language similar to that used by his father in the past. He highlighted Iran’s ability to disrupt the region by targeting oil supplies and activating allied groups across the Middle East.

He specifically referred to the possibility of blocking the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this narrow waterway. “The will of the people is for the continuation of an effective and deterrent defence that will make the enemy regret its actions,” he said.

He also warned that Iran was studying the option of opening additional fronts in the conflict. “Studies have also been carried out on opening other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and in which it will be extremely vulnerable,” he said. Khamenei added that these fronts could be activated if the war continued.

Message to Neighbouring Countries

Khamenei also addressed countries in the region. Iran shares land or maritime borders with about 15 nations. He said Iran had always aimed for friendly and constructive ties with its neighbours.

However, he criticised the presence of American military bases in nearby countries and called for their closure. According to him, the United States’ claim that these bases help maintain security in the region was misleading. “the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie”.

He urged regional governments to decide where they stand in the conflict. “These countries must determine their stance regarding those who have invaded our dear homeland and killed our people.”

Personal Grief Over Family Losses

Khamenei also spoke about the emotional impact of the attack that killed several members of his family. He described his father as a “shining treasure and distinguished figure in history”. He said he personally saw the late leader’s body after what he called his “martyrdom”.

According to Khamenei, the body appeared like “a mountain of steadfastness”. He said his father’s only functioning hand — the other arm had been paralysed after a bomb attack in the 1980s — remained clenched in defiance.

He also revealed that the strike killed several of his relatives. Along with his father, he lost “my dear and loyal wife”, his sister, her child, and his brother-in-law. Earlier reports had suggested that his mother was also killed in the attack. However, Iran’s Fars News Agency said on Thursday that those reports were incorrect and she was still alive.

Khamenei also said he learned about his appointment as supreme leader at the same time as the public. The clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts made the decision. He said he first heard about it through the state broadcaster while watching television.