Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Revenge for Father's Assassination; Trump Warns of 'Total Destruction'

Tehran. Iran's Supreme Leader Moqtba Khamenei has warned of revenge for the assassination of his father and former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by America-Israel on Saturday.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had warned against any attempt to assassinate him. Statements from both sides have increased after the air strike this week, which has affected the interim agreement to end the war. This war started at the end of February last year with a major attack by America-Israel.

President Trump has announced the end of the ceasefire between the two sides, while mediators are trying to save diplomacy. According to Iranian media, a delegation from Qatar reached Iran on Friday.

"Revenge is the will of our nation and it must be implemented inevitably," Moqtba Khamenei said in a written message. After his father Ali Khamenei was assassinated in an America-Israel attack in February last year, he became Iran's Supreme Leader, but he has been appearing in public since before the war started.

"This matter does not depend on my personal existence or the existence of other officials. Whether we live or not, this event will definitely happen," he wrote in his first public message after his father's funeral this week.

He said that Iran has prepared a list of targeted individuals.

President Trump's Warning

A few hours earlier, President Trump had posted on social media (Truth Social platform) warning that if any attempt is made to assassinate him, the United States of America will 'totally destroy' Iran.

He wrote, "If the Iranian government, as threatened in various places around the world, attempts to assassinate me, the President of the United States, a thousand missiles are ready and targeted at Iran. Thousands more missiles are ready to follow immediately."

"Orders have already been given, and the US military is ready and capable of completely destroying and demolishing all areas of Iran for a year and, if necessary, extending it further."

Diplomatic Efforts Continue

As both countries escalate threats, mediators are trying to bring back diplomacy. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Friday that a Qatari delegation has gone to Iran to 'strengthen Qatar's role as a mediator'. Trump has said that talks with Iran will continue but called it a 'waste of time'.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed last month that Tehran has fulfilled its commitment after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two sides.

"Tehran has kept its promise so far," he said, "The reality check: only mutual compliance can be."

Alzan in Hormuz

After the signing of the memorandum of understanding, delegations from America and Iran held a round of direct talks in Switzerland and indirect talks in Qatar, but no diplomatic progress has been seen since then.

The main obstacle to the final agreement is the future of the Strait of Hormuz. During the war, Iran had closed it to commercial shipping in retaliation for the America-Israel attack.

This waterway is an important route for the export of oil and gas from the energy-rich Gulf countries, and its closure has had a major impact on the world economy.