Iran vows revenge for slain supreme leader despite Trump threatThousands gathered to mourn the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, shown here, and in other cities including Shiraz and YazdTEHRAN - Iranian top officials vowed Sunday to avenge their slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and declared a new wave of strikes on US bases in the Gulf, defying US President Donald Trump's threat of an unprecedented escalation in force. Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, declared: "The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors." Iran's first retaliatory strikes on Saturday had hit all the Gulf states apart from Oman, which had sought to mediate US-Iran talks. - Question on succession -Iran had already seen intense speculation on a successor to Khamenei, given his age. Pezeshkian and two other top officials would lead Iran in the transitional period following Khamenei's death, state television said Sunday.

Source: Bangkok Post March 01, 2026 11:56 UTC