Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, asserted on Sunday (June 28) that the leaders of the United States and Israel must be punished for waging war against his country.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out, "From the physical and mental harm inflicted upon the Iranian people through forced war, to the killing of children in Minab and Lamerd, and war crimes ranging from attacks on medical facilities, all these acts are legal matters that must be addressed in domestic and international courts."
He further emphasized, "What is certain is that these criminals must be arrested and held accountable for their criminal acts."
Referring to the death of his father, the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S. and Israeli airstrike on February 28, the first day of the war, he stated, "The martyrdom of the Mujahid leader and all other incidents are among thousands of major legal cases that must be handled seriously."
Ayatollah Khamenei added, "The task of continuously pursuing this matter until investigations are conducted and verdicts are reached regarding the crimes committed during the forced war has been entrusted to the relevant authorities," noting that "this will help prevent the recurrence of such crimes."
This statement by Ayatollah Khamenei is interpreted as a domestic message aimed at consolidating public opinion as the U.S. and Iran continue negotiations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a ceasefire.
Iran is scheduled to hold the funeral for Ali Khamenei over six days from July 4 to 9 in cities including Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad.
This marks the official funeral beginning 126 days after Ali Khamenei's death.