The recently appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei promises death upon those who killed his father, Ali. The threats are directed at Trump and Netanyahu. The question is who is issuing them. Mojtaba has not been seen since his father was killed.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says revenge is a demand from the nation in his first message after his father and predecessor was buried.

Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike on 28 February, on the first day of the American-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

He was laid to rest this week in the Shia Muslims’ holy city of Mashhad after a week of funeral ceremonies throughout the country.

The son Mojtaba was absent from the funeral. Since he was appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader in March, he has not appeared in public and has only communicated via written messages.

In Saturday’s message, Khamenei says that revenge is a demand from the nation which «most certainly» must be fulfilled.

– We promise to make up for the blood of our leader who was made a martyr, and for all the martyrs in these two wars from criminal and dishonourable perpetrators, he says. (NTB)

If Mojtaba were to confirm his authority, he would have appeared in public. It is said that he was seriously injured in the attack that killed his father. Others may therefore impersonate him. In the long run that will not work.
The question is what falls first – the regime or the son?
Merely that the son should inherit the office as Supreme Leader is not according to the book in Shia Islam. It is also said that Mojtaba lacks the qualifications. He is moreover said to be gay and is referred to as such in the media.