Topline
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to take revenge against the U.S. on Saturday for his father’s assassination, making the remarks after President Donald Trump threatened to “completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran” as relations between the U.S. and Iran have deteriorated just weeks after a temporary peace deal was signed.
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 said “revenge is the demand” of Iran and that it will be carried out against “criminals, whose names are known from top to bottom,” though he did not explicitly name Trump in the statement, according to Axios.
The state funeral and burial for Iran’s late supreme leader took place this week, with Khamenei adding revenge for his father’s death “will be accomplished” whether he is dead or alive.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday night the U.S. has “1,000 missiles” aimed at Iran, “with thousands of more to immediately follow” if the Iranian government assassinates or attempts to assassinate him.
The president noted the U.S. military is ready to “completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran “for a one year period of time, subject to extension.”
Photos of the late supreme leader’s dayslong funeral procession showed several large signs calling for Trump’s death.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have risen following the signing of a temporary peace deal last month, with both sides trading strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and other areas in the Persian Gulf.
Trump said this week the recent ceasefire reached with Iran was “over.”
Tangent
Trump’s Friday remarks came less than 12 hours after he claimed the U.S. agreed to an Iranian request to continue peace talks. He said negotiations would continue despite increasing conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.