Mojtaba Khamenei promises to “avenge the blood of the martyrs” and applauds the Armed Forces in the face of the US and Israeli offensive

The new supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, highlighted this Thursday in his first official message after taking office following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, in the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel that Tehran “will avenge the blood of the martyrs” and has praised the work of the Armed Forces for “blocking the path of the enemy with crushing blows.”

The message, published by Mojtaba Khamenei’s office through social networks, states that the Iranian forces “have taken away the enemies’ hope of dominating the homeland and possibly dividing it” and has stressed that “the lever of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used”, after the attacks against ships in the area as part of Tehran’s response to the aforementioned offensive.

Khamenei, who spoke in memory of his father and the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khamenei, has also highlighted the work of “the fighters of the resistance front”, in reference to the Shiite party-militia Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen and other pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, while calling on the countries of the region to “expel the invaders” from their bases, which will continue to be attacked by Iran.

“I guarantee everyone that we will not stop when it comes to avenging the blood of our martyrs,” he said, before specifying that “this does not only affect the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution, but also all the members of the nation who have fallen martyrs at the hands of the enemy.” “Each one will be an independent subject of revenge,” he stressed.

“A limited part of this revenge has already taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will be the main one. We will be especially sensitive to the blood of our children and grandchildren, so the crime deliberately committed by the enemy at the Minab school – in which more than 160 girls died – and other similar cases will have a special place in this decision,” he said.

In addition, he has shown his “sincere gratitude” to “the brave warriors who, faced with an unjust attack by the leaders of the front of arrogance, have blocked the path of the enemy.” “Studies have been carried out on the opening of other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and is extremely vulnerable. Their activation will take place if the war continues and based on our interests,” he said.

Khamenei has also made reference to the attacks launched by Iran against countries in the region in response to the offensive by the United States and Israel and has stressed that Tehran “wants and has always wanted to have warm and constructive relations with all of them.” “However, the enemy has gradually established military and financial bases in some of these countries for years to guarantee its dominance over the region,” he criticized.

“In the recent attack, some military bases were used and, naturally and as we explicitly warned, we attacked those bases, without attacking those countries,” explained the Iranian supreme leader, who stressed that Tehran “will continue to do so.” “While we believe in the need for friendship with neighbors, these countries must close those bases as soon as possible,” he stressed.

“They must now realize that the United States’ claims about establishing security and peace are nothing more than a lie. That would bring them closer to their nations, which are generally dissatisfied with this association with the infidel front and this humiliating behavior,” he said, before reiterating Iran’s willingness for “unity” and “sincere relations” with “all its neighbors.”

MESSAGE TO THE POPULATION

The new Iranian supreme leader has praised the population’s position in the face of the US and Israeli offensive and has stated that “it was the people who led the country and guaranteed its authority” during the “few days” in which “the country was without a leader and without a commander in chief.”

“If their presence had not appeared on the scene, neither the leadership nor the institutions whose job it is to serve the people would have been sufficiently effective,” he argued, before defending that this support will make it possible to achieve “a definitive victory over the enemy.” “It is a great advantage that we have and that the enemy does not have,” he stated.

In this sense, he has appealed for unity and has stated that it “should not be undermined”, which is why he has asked to “ignore disagreements” at this stage. “An effective presence must be maintained, whether as in the last days and nights of war or in activities at a social, political, educational, cultural and even security level.”

“It is important that the correct role is well understood and applied, as far as possible, without endangering social unity,” said Khamenei, who has also called for massive participation in the marches for Jerusalem Day, which is celebrated on March 15 worldwide and which has been an event celebrated for years on the last Friday of Ramadan in support of the Palestinian people.

Khamenei has also asked the population “not to ignore acts to help other people”, a “common characteristic of the majority of Iranians.” “This is more evident in these special days, when naturally some people have it more difficult than others. I ask service agencies not to hesitate in providing assistance and support to the beloved members of the nation,” he added.

“If these aspects are respected, the path of the days of greatness and glory of our beloved nation will pass without incident,” he said, before arguing that this will help “achieve victory against the enemy in the current war,” as reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Along these lines, he has expressed his condolences to the relatives of those killed by the offensive against Iran, including his father, his wife and other relatives, and has announced that Iran will work to achieve “compensation for the damage caused to people and property.”

“We will receive compensation from the enemy and, if he refuses, we will seize his property, to the extent we determine. If this is not possible, we will destroy that same amount of property,” he said.

Khamenei also thanked the Assembly of Experts for electing him to the position, a decision that he learned about “at the same time” as the rest of the population, as well as “the members of the three branches of the Government and the interim leadership council” for “their good measures and actions” during this period.

Finally, he praised the work of his father, of whom he said that “many did not recognize his true worth”, before maintaining that it will be “difficult” for him to “be in the seat” of Khamenei and Khomeini. “I ask God (…) for a decisive victory over the enemy of our nation, as well as dignity, growth and well-being,” he concluded.

Mojtaba Khamenei was named on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts as successor to his father, assassinated on February 28 at the beginning of the aforementioned offensive by the United States and Israel. The attack also killed Ali Khamenei’s wife, Mansuré Jojasté Bagherzadé, and several of his relatives, including his daughter and one of his granddaughters.

The joint offensive has left more than 1,200 dead in Iran to date, according to data published by the authorities of the Asian country. Among the dead, in addition to the supreme leader, are several ministers and senior officials of the Iranian Army, which has responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and US interests in Middle Eastern countries, including military bases.