Iran’s Khamenei Vows Revenge as U.S., Tehran Dispute Talks

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed Saturday to avenge his father’s killing as Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts about renewed negotiations.

Khamenei called retaliation “the demand of the nation” in a written statement read on Iranian state television, Reuters reported.

We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers. — Statement issued in Mojtaba Khamenei’s name, read on Iranian state television

Another passage warned that those held responsible would take “the dream of a peaceful death in bed” to their graves.

Khamenei said the pledge did not depend on him or other Iranian officials remaining in power.

“Whether we are here or not, this will be realized, and soon, free people across the world will each carry out part of this divine mission,” the statement said. It offered no evidence that anyone outside Iran had agreed to take part.

Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei’s father and predecessor, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike Feb. 28. A funeral procession for the late leader took place in Karbala, Iraq, on July 9.

President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran had asked to continue negotiations with the United States and that Washington had agreed. He also declared that a ceasefire reached in June was over.

Senior U.S. officials told CBS News that Iranian officials had privately acknowledged making a mistake by firing on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials blamed the attacks on a rogue faction of hardliners trying to undermine the negotiations, the U.S. officials said. Iran has not publicly confirmed that version.

Later, Fars News quoted an unnamed source close to Iran’s negotiating team as saying Iran had not asked for talks with Washington — an account that conflicts with Trump’s statement and the U.S. officials’ version.

Tehran would not take part unless the United States reversed its current positions and implemented understandings previously reached between the two countries, the source said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went to Oman Saturday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. No U.S. representatives were expected to attend, with contacts continuing through mediators, CBS News said.