Mujtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge for His Father’s Assassination

Mujtaba al-Husseini Khamenei issued a statement during the funeral ceremonies of his father, Ali Khamenei, held in Iraq and Iran. In the statement, he committed to continuing his father’s path and avenging his blood and the blood of the martyrs, while expressing gratitude to the tens of millions who participated in the funeral rites.

He began his statement by sending greetings to Imam Hussein and his family, emphasizing that the call of Hussein’s uprising has echoed through history and resonated with the prophetic mission. He noted that from this call emerged the Islamic Revolution in Iran, which he described as having been Hussaini from its inception, founded on the slogan and path of Imam Hussein.

Khamenei added that the martyr of Iran was raised on this path, embodying the thought, action, struggle, and resistance of Hussein’s school. He lived and sacrificed his blood for the cause of Imam Hussein’s teachings until he attained martyrdom.

He pointed out that among the followers of Hussein are men whose blood, when unjustly shed in the name of Hussein and his school, leads to the rise of the Islamic nation, linking their time to Ashura and their place to Karbala.

Khamenei viewed the Hussaini epic as having revived the Iranian people and given new manifestation to the schools of Imam Khomeini and the martyred Imam Khamenei. He described it as a response to the call of Imam Hussein’s oppression and his cry, “Is there anyone to help me?” in Iran, Iraq, and other countries, shaking falsehood.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to the tens of millions who, in his words, recorded a historic, astonishing, and enemy-defeating presence in cities and villages across Iran and Iraq, especially in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad.

Khamenei affirmed that the Iranian people call for avenging the blood of Imam Hussein, having sacrificed their sons over the years in his cause and in the wars against his enemies. He noted that they now demand revenge for his blood and the blood of the Hussainis of this era.

Addressing his father, he said, “O oppressed slain one, O proud oppressed one, O devoted servant of God, as we bid farewell to your body with tearful eyes and broken hearts, we pledge to preserve your school, to steadfastly follow the straight path you outlined, to not fear the hardships of this path, and to fix our hearts, as you did, on the divine glad tidings and promises.”

He vowed to avenge the blood of his father and all the war martyrs from the criminals who killed them, stressing that revenge is the demand of the Iranian people and must be fulfilled.

Khamenei added that there is a complete list of those responsible for the operation, from the first to the last, and that none of them will die peacefully in their beds.

He emphasized that carrying out this revenge does not depend on his presence or that of other officials, stating that revenge will occur whether they are present or not, and that free individuals worldwide will soon each play a part in this mission.

He addressed his father as “Father of the Nation, the Martyr,” congratulating him on attaining the martyrdom he long desired, wearing its garment with a body bearing marks of Lady Fatima al-Zahra, Imam Hussein, and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas.

Khamenei also spoke to his companions who faced a sudden attack and attained martyrdom, saying they have become guests of Imam al-Ridha, whom he described as the gateway of God’s mercy for all, especially the people of those lands.

He addressed Imam al-Ridha, stating that the pure soil embraces the dismembered body of a servant among the servants of the pure progeny, after years of diligence, effort, and persistent struggle, alongside the bodies of martyrs from his family, each reminding one of the martyrs of Karbala.

He added that they will rest there until the day of the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi, by God’s command, who will pour the light of divine mercy upon the people of the earth. He expressed hope that the martyred Imam Khamenei will be among the truthful, the martyrs, and the saints who will accompany him.

Khamenei confirmed that he entrusts his father and his martyred companions to Imam al-Ridha after they gave all they had for the Ahl al-Bayt, praying that they be honored by his kindness and care and receive in the afterlife the fullness and elevation of his mercy beyond what they enjoyed in this world.

In closing his statement, Mujtaba Khamenei renewed condolences to Imam al-Mahdi and implored him to include in his prayers the master of Iran’s martyrs and his companions and all other martyrs, asking God to grant them the highest ranks, their families patience and reward, and the Iranian people decisive and near victory.