Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Retaliation; Trump Warns 1,000 US Missiles ‘Locked and Loaded’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Saturday that avenging his slain predecessor and father was "the demand of the nation." The declaration further escalates tensions already rising between Tehran and Washington. 

He said the retaliation "must certainly" be carried out, according to a post on X. His remarks reflected a hardened stance following months of political and military strain.

The statement coincided with funeral ceremonies for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The funeral was held months after he was killed in US–Israeli airstrikes on February 28. 

The ceremonies drew thousands of people and reinforced the government’s narrative of national sacrifice and collective duty. People called for revenge for the blood of the supreme leader. 

Three sons of Ali Khamenei made a rare public appearance on the second day of his funeral. There has still been no sign of Mojtaba Khamenei. Iranians have not seen him since he was appointed supreme leader in March.

Pledge to Avenge

Senior sources have said Mojtaba Khamenei suffered facial disfigurement and other injuries in the strike that killed his father. His absence from the mourning ceremonies is believed to be due to the dangers of Israeli threats to his life, Al Jazeera English 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," Mojtaba Khamenei said. 

His comments echoed earlier statements from senior Iranian commanders who have described retaliation as inevitable. Analysts said the message signaled a shift from symbolic mourning toward operational intent within Iran’s security establishment.

Oil prices ended the week higher because of renewed clashes between the US and Iran. Crude oil settled around $71 per barrel, recording a weekly gain of about 4%. 

Trump Issues Warning

The remarks landed as Washington issued its own warnings. It followed a week of clashes that undermined hopes for the tentative accord reached earlier this year. 

President Donald Trump said Iran would face overwhelming military force if its leaders attempted or carried out his assassination. His message appeared in a Truth Social post late Friday. 

Trump said the US had positioned significant firepower in response to Iranian threats. 

"1,000 missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!" Trump wrote.

"Orders have been given, and the US Military is ready, willing and able," he added. 

Washington Expands Financial Pressure

Washington also expanded financial pressure on Tehran. 

Following Iran’s resumption of attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned an Iranian financial facilitator. 

The Treasury accused the facilitator of institutionalizing large‑scale embezzlement within the regime. OFAC also targeted key Iranian exchange houses that move billions of dollars annually on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks.

"The so‑called Supreme Leader is hiding in seclusion while his regime crumbles," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X on Friday. "Treasury will continue using every tool at its disposal to isolate him and other regime elites from the global financial system. We will preserve these assets for the Iranian people."