Iran promises retaliation after killing of supreme leader, defies U.S. threats
Iran’s top officials vowed on Sunday to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling a new wave of attacks on U.S. military bases across the Gulf region, despite warnings of “unprecedented force” from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement came on Sunday as explosions rocked Tehran, and Israeli forces reported airstrikes in central Iran.
Additional blasts were heard in major regional cities, including Jerusalem, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, and Manama.
President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Khamenei’s killing as a “declaration of war against Muslims” and vowed retribution against the perpetrators.
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, echoed the call, warning that “the brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors.”
In response to the escalating tensions, President Trump posted a warning in his signature style on social media: “YESTERDAY IRAN FIRED MISSILES AT THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL, AND THEY DID HURT. TODAY WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.”
AFP journalists reported smoke rising from northern Tehran following blasts that targeted unidentified sites. Israeli emergency crews were seen inspecting debris west of Jerusalem near Bet Shemesh.
Pro-government demonstrations erupted in Tehran following the confirmation of Khamenei’s death, with chants of “Death to America!” spilling into the streets.
Iran’s military announced strikes against U.S. bases in the Gulf and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli strikes had already hit multiple Gulf states, sparing only Oman, which had attempted to mediate talks.
Two drones reportedly struck the Iranian port of Duqm in Oman on Sunday, injuring a foreign worker and targeting a tanker off the coast.
Violence also spread to neighboring countries: at least eight people died in Karachi, Pakistan, when crowds stormed the US consulate in protest. Iran’s Red Crescent reported 201 fatalities and hundreds of injuries from the strikes within the country.
The Iranian judiciary confirmed the deaths of Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Khamenei, and General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran retaliated with missiles and drone attacks across the Middle East, killing at least two in Abu Dhabi and one in Tel Aviv.
Khamenei’s death has intensified speculation over Iran’s future leadership.
The government announced that President Pezeshkian and two senior officials will oversee a transitional period.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, son of the late pro-Western shah, denounced any successor within the current system as illegitimate, declaring that “the Islamic Republic has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.”
The Iranian judiciary also reported that one strike on a southern school killed 108 people, though AFP could not independently verify the claim.
As Iran vows vengeance, the Middle East faces the prospect of escalating conflict, with both regional and international actors watching closely.
