Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge Against Israel and West

Iran is entering a period of heightened tension following a threatening declaration by its new Supreme Leader, Mujtaba Khamenei. He pledged to avenge the death of his father, the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint American-Israeli strike. Mujtaba Khamenei emphasized that this revenge is a national demand that must be fulfilled soon, regardless of whether he or his associates remain alive.

Concurrently, the influential Iranian newspaper Al-Moshahari published a detailed "blacklist" of high-ranking Israeli and American officials marked as assassination targets. The list includes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir. On the American side, it names President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy are also included.

Mujtaba Khamenei’s statement that the revenge will proceed "whether we are here or not" signals a shift from rhetoric to potential action. Since his appointment after his father’s assassination, Mujtaba has avoided public appearances, likely due to assassination fears. Meanwhile, Iran continues to escalate pressure on Israel and the U.S., with National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr warning that any attack on Iranian infrastructure will be met with retaliation.

Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are underway, with Qatar mediating between Washington and Tehran to prevent a wider regional conflict. A senior U.S. official stated that the U.S. is currently prioritizing diplomacy but remains prepared for all scenarios. Despite a relatively quiet night without attacks, tensions remain extremely high as the region faces a dangerous period of uncertainty with Tehran’s focus sharply on Jerusalem and Washington. The key question is whether diplomacy can avert further escalation or if another cycle of conflict is imminent.