Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei Threatens Global Revenge by Individuals for Father's Killing

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, issued a rare and stark threat of revenge following his father's death in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike in late February. Through his official account on Sunday, Mojtaba warned that "individuals around the world" would carry out what he called a "divine mission" of vengeance, independent of his own presence or any official Iranian authorities. The statement emphasized that the revenge would occur "soon" and involve free people globally, signaling a broadening of threats beyond Iran's formal proxies.

The message was part of a written statement Mojtaba released after his father's funeral, in which he vowed to avenge the blood of Ali Khamenei and all those killed in the two wars. Reuters reported that Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since being named supreme leader and was seriously wounded in the strike that killed his father. Despite his injuries, he remains lucid, participates in high-level meetings via video conference, and is involved in key decision-making.

According to the New York Times, Mojtaba sought to attend his father's funeral prayers but was denied by Iranian security officials who feared Israeli assassination attempts or exposure of his hiding place. The prolonged absence from public view adds weight to his declaration that revenge does not depend on his personal survival or that of Iran's leadership.

The call to "individuals among the free people worldwide" suggests encouragement of actions beyond direct Iranian command, potentially including lone actors. This threat coincides with an intensified Iranian media campaign displaying images of U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials, with headlines in Hebrew warning "Revenge Soon."

These developments come amid U.S. President Trump's warnings of unprecedented military retaliation if Iran attempts to assassinate him, including threats of launching thousands of missiles at Iran. The escalating rhetoric underscores heightened tensions following the targeted killing of Ali Khamenei and the potential for wider conflict.