An Iranian newspaper published a graphic naming 13 foreign leaders in a so-called “revenge list” following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. …reports Asian Lite News Desk
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, made his first public statement since the funeral of his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as an Iranian newspaper published an online graphic naming 13 foreign leaders in what it described as a “revenge list”.
The graphic, published late on Saturday by Hamshahri, a national Iranian daily newspaper, appeared shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei’s first public message following his father’s six-day funeral procession last week.
The publication featured US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with sniper-style crosshair symbols superimposed on their foreheads. It also displayed 11 other leaders wearing orange prison uniforms, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, US Central Command Commander Brad Cooper, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
In his statement, Mojtaba Khamenei said, “Vengeance is the will of our nation and must inevitably be carried out.”
He added, “These criminals, whose names appear on a list, will take to their graves the wish of a peaceful death in their beds.”
There was no indication that the graphic had been officially endorsed by the Iranian government. Mojtaba Khamenei also did not identify the individuals he believed were responsible for his father’s death.
The successor has not been seen in public since before the outbreak of hostilities and was reported to have sustained injuries in the same strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
The publication came amid reports by several US media outlets that Iran had been planning to assassinate President Trump. CNN reported that US officials had been monitoring what it described as a “steady drumbeat” of intelligence pointing to possible threats against the US President. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the intelligence, the broadcaster said Israel had shared information with Washington regarding a “specific” assassination plot targeting Trump.
The reported intelligence may also explain Trump’s decision to switch aircraft while departing the NATO summit in Turkey. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “They want to take out the US leader – me. I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists.”
The developments coincided with renewed hostilities after both sides were reported to have breached a ceasefire, raising fresh uncertainty over the prospects for a lasting agreement.
The United States carried out strikes on around 140 targets on Sunday in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
Tehran said the ships had “disregarded warnings” about an approved route and declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the “end of US interference in this region”. The strategic waterway carries around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments during peacetime.
Following the US strikes, Iran also criticised several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Qatar described the attacks on its territory and neighbouring countries as a “dangerous escalation”, while Oman’s state news outlet reported that the government “affirms its condemnation and denunciation of this attack”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is also one of the country’s principal negotiators, posted on X: “The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.”
