The Dictatorship
Khamenei vows to ‘avenge’ his father, Trump threatens to ‘decimate’ Iran
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, vowed on Saturday to “avenge” his father and predecessor after President Donald Trump threatened to “decimate and destroy” Iran over recent alleged threats to his life.
In a statement posted on X, Khamenei, who has not been seen since the war began, said Iranians will take revenge on those who killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the first round of strikes from the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28. “The criminal, disgraceful murderers of the martyred Leader, whose names are fully documented from the highest to the lowest ranks, will carry their dream of a peaceful death in bed to the grave,” he said.
The supreme leader’s statement follows Trump’s threat late on Friday to attack Iran amid reports of a new plot to assassinate him.
“1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!” Trump posted on Truth Social late on Friday.
“Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran,” he added.
The Islamic regime has long called for Trump’s death. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. about a fresh scheme on the president’s life. Mourners at Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession also displayed signs and chanted for Trump’s death.
The president alluded to such threats while speaking to reporters in Turkey on Wednesday
“I’m number one on the kill list for Iran,” he said.
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.