Why it matters:
The remarks underscore Tehran’s determination to respond to the attacks and hold its adversaries accountable.
The big picture:
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has vowed continued resistance and further retaliatory attacks following the war of aggression by the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.
What he’s saying:
Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei:
“We will not forgo avenging the blood of the martyrs.”
“In any case, we will take reparations from the enemy. If it refuses, we will take from its assets as much as we deem appropriate, and if that is not possible, we will destroy its assets to the same extent.”
In his first message on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed condolences over the martyrdom of the late leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Highlighting the significance of the people’s role within the Islamic system, he stressed the need for unity among the population under the current national circumstances. He stated that the people’s effective presence must continue—both in the way it has been demonstrated during the recent days and nights of war, and through active participation across social, political, educational, cultural, and security fields.
He added that the key issue is to properly understand the appropriate role and carry it out as fully as possible without damaging social cohesion. “For this reason, I remind everyone of the importance of taking part in this year’s Quds Day (1447 AH) rally, where the focus should be on breaking the enemy,” he said.
The Leader also underscored the importance of mutual assistance during these difficult days, calling on public service institutions not to withhold support from citizens.
In another part of his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the country’s Armed Forces for defending the nation against the aggressive front, noting that the public expects their response to remain strong and effective.
He stated that the option of closing the Strait of Hormuz must remain firmly on the table. He added that studies have also examined the possibility of opening other fronts where the enemy has limited experience and greater vulnerability, and that these options could be activated if the conflict persists in order to protect national interests.
Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed sincere appreciation to the fighters of the Resistance Front. He noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran regards the countries involved in this front as its closest allies and emphasized that the cause of resistance is inseparable from the values of the Islamic Revolution.
He added that unity among the members of this front will accelerate the path toward liberation from Zionist sedition. He pointed to the example of Yemen, which he described as courageous and faithful for continuing to defend the oppressed people of Gaza, as well as Hezbollah, which he said has supported the Islamic Republic despite many obstacles, and the Iraqi resistance, which he said has steadfastly followed the same path.
Iran will avenge the blood of its martyrs
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the country will not abandon its pursuit of revenge for the blood of its martyrs. He assured the public that the intended retaliation is not limited to the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution; rather, every citizen killed by the enemy constitutes a separate case for retaliation.
Ayatollah Khamenei urges regional states to close foreign military bases amid tensions
Addressing leaders and influential figures in several regional countries, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran shares land or maritime borders with 15 nations and has historically maintained constructive relations with them. However, he said that over time adversaries have established military and financial bases in some of these countries to maintain dominance over the region. According to him, some of those bases were used in the recent aggression against Iran. He emphasized that Iran had not targeted the countries themselves but rather those specific bases.
He stated that this approach will inevitably continue going forward. At the same time, he reaffirmed the importance of maintaining friendly relations with neighboring states and called on them to clearly declare their stance regarding the aggressors attacking Iran and those responsible for killing Iranians. He urged them to shut down those bases as soon as possible, arguing that recent events demonstrate that the United States’ claim of bringing security and peace to the region was misleading.
Key points:
The Leader urged broad participation in Quds Day rallies as a show of national strength against the enemy.
He said the option of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must remain a strategic lever.
Iran will pursue compensation for damages caused by the attacks.
He called on neighboring countries to clarify their position toward aggressors targeting Iran.
Go deeper:
Ayatollah Khamenei noted that Iran shares land or maritime borders with 15 neighboring countries and has consistently sought constructive relations with them.
Foreign powers have established military and financial bases in some neighboring states, expanding their dominance in the region.
Some of those bases were used in the attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to target the facilities themselves while avoiding strikes on the host countries.
The comments come amid heightened regional tensions following the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran that began on February 28, when an attack on Tehran assassinated the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Martyr Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Mojtaba Darabi - Mojtaba Darabi
