Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed justice and revenge following the assassination of senior security official Ali Larijani in a U.S.-Israeli strike on Tuesday.
In a televised address, Mojtaba stated that “every drop of blood has a price”, warning that the U.S. and Israel will pay for Larijani’s killing.
Larijani, a former head of Iran’s national security council and lead nuclear negotiator, was considered one of the country’s most influential powerbrokers. His assassination marks a major loss for Iran’s military leadership and has intensified the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign against Tehran, escalating regional tensions.
Mojtaba Khamenei described Larijani as “learned, far-sighted, and intelligent”, and said his elimination reflects the deep animosity of Iran’s enemies. Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami warned that Tehran’s response will be both decisive and regrettable, signaling a shift from indirect methods to direct and asymmetric strikes against Western targets in the Middle East.
The killing complicates Iran’s internal politics, narrows Tehran’s strategic options, and threatens to escalate the West Asia conflict into a broader confrontation.
Observers note that Larijani had played a central role in balancing Iran’s nuclear policy, international diplomacy, and internal security operations. His death poses new challenges to Iran’s defense, nuclear strategy, and regional proxy influence.
