Topline<\/p>\n
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to take revenge against the U.S. on Saturday for his father\u2019s assassination, making the remarks after President Donald Trump threatened to \u201ccompletely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran\u201d as relations between the U.S. and Iran have deteriorated just weeks after a temporary peace deal was signed.<\/p>\n
People raise fists at a farewell ceremony for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 4, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.<\/p>\n
Photo by Majid Saeedi\/Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Khamenei said \u201crevenge is the demand\u201d of Iran and that it will be carried out against \u201ccriminals, whose names are known from top to bottom,\u201d though he did not explicitly name Trump in the statement, according to Axios<\/a>.<\/p>\n The state funeral and burial for Iran\u2019s late supreme leader took place this week, with Khamenei adding revenge for his father\u2019s death \u201cwill be accomplished\u201d whether he is dead or alive.<\/p>\n Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday night the U.S. has \u201c1,000 missiles\u201d aimed at Iran, \u201cwith thousands of more to immediately follow\u201d if the Iranian government assassinates or attempts to assassinate him.<\/p>\n The president noted the U.S. military is ready to \u201ccompletely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran \u201cfor a one year period of time, subject to extension.\u201d<\/p>\n Photos of the late supreme leader\u2019s dayslong funeral procession showed several large signs calling for Trump\u2019s death. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Trump said this week the recent ceasefire reached with Iran was \u201cover.\u201d<\/p>\n Tangent<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Friday remarks came less than 12 hours after he claimed the U.S. agreed to an Iranian request to continue peace talks.<\/a> He said negotiations would continue despite increasing conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n A \u201cmemorandum of understanding\u201d was signed by the U.S. and Iran in June, agreeing to cease all military operations, open up the Strait of Hormuz and begin a 60-day negotiation period. Iran\u2019s nuclear program and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of the world\u2019s oil passes through, have been the largest points of contention throughout talks. Negotiations have yet to produce a major breakthrough as skirmishes over the Strait continued this week. Before claiming the U.S. and Iran agreed to further peace talks, Trump said earlier this week the Iran ceasefire was \u201cover\u201d and that further negotiations were a \u201cwaste of time. The president also repeated threats to target civilian infrastructure and Kharg Island, a heavily fortified part of Iran that accounts for 90% of the country\u2019s oil exports.<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n