Iran's Supreme Leader pledges to avenge 'blood of the martyred' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday vowed to avenge the killing of his predecessor and father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that retribution was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place.

In a written message reported by state media, Khamenei pledged to avenge the "blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars" from what he called the "criminal and disgraced perpetrators."

Khamenei ​issued the ⁠message on ‌the occasion ​of ​funeral ceremonies for his ⁠father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held ​months after he was ​killed in the US-Israeli airstrikes which started on February 28.


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US seeks Iranian pledge to halt attacks on Strait of Hormuz

The United States has demanded Tehran to publicly ​state that it will stop attacks ​on ships in the Strait of Hormuz - and that all lanes will ⁠be open with no tolls through the waterway, Reuters quoted senior American officials as saying.

During the war Iran has largely taken control of the crucial passage, forcing a stalemate in its confrontation with US.

The US officials said conversations between the two countries had been productive in recent days.

However, Tehran said any breach of commitments by Washington would be met with "reciprocal action."

The US-Iran peace deal signed last month was meant to pave the way to the end of a conflict now in its fifth month, which has killed thousands, disturbed worldwide energy supplies and raised fears of a global economic downturn.

Iranian delegation heads to Oman

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had arrived in Oman. The country is acting as a mediator to an end to a war that has spread insecurity in the Gulf and raised prices around the world.

According to CBS News and its UK partner the BBC, US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary ‌of State Marco Rubio, special ⁠envoy Steve Witkoff ⁠and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to lead negotiations on Saturday with Araqchi.

Araqchi accused the Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement; the US revoked the license authorizing the sale of Iranian crude ​on Tuesday after the vessels were hit.

"There can only be mutual compliance," he wrote on X.