Iran Threatens Israel and US with Retaliation Over Khamenei Assassination

On July 18, 2026, Majid Mir Ahmadi, advisor to the Iranian Armed Forces' Chief of Staff, issued a strong warning to Israel and the United States following the assassination of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He declared that those responsible for Khamenei's killing must be punished according to Quranic law, emphasizing that the issue of revenge is not personal but a national matter concerning the Islamic nation. Mir Ahmadi stressed that the threat will persist until Iran's enemies face a real and practical danger.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the conservative Iranian newspaper Kayhan, reinforced this stance in an interview with the Fars news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards. He warned that ignoring the call for blood revenge would effectively grant Israel and the US a license to continue their hostile actions. Shariatmadari also referenced written messages from Mojtaba Khamenei, highlighting demands that the Strait of Hormuz remain closed, the US pay reparations to Iran, withdraw from the region, exclude nuclear issues from negotiations, and carry out the promised revenge.

The threats come amid Iran launching missiles and drones targeting American positions across the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, signaling escalating tensions. The Iranian leadership frames the retaliation as a collective duty of the Islamic nation, underscoring the seriousness of their resolve to avenge Khamenei's death.