Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for father’s killing

Iran’s supreme leader said Iran “demands” retribution for his father’s assassination in an airstrike. Meanwhile, Trump has threatened to “completely decimate” Iran should it attempt to assassinate him. DW has more.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Guov

Women hold signs featuring pictures of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, and Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral procession, in Najaf, Iraq, July 8, 2026.
Mourners during Ali Khamenei’s funeral held pictures of his son, Mojtaba (center)Image: Alaa Al-Marjani/REUTERS

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • Iran‘s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says the nation ‘demands’ revenge for the killing of his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei
  • Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran has ‘kept its word’ in the ceasefire with the US
  • US President Donald Trump says 1,000 missiles are aimed at Iran if it tries to kill him 
  • US reportedly asks Iran to pledge to stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Follow DW’s coverage of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran on Saturday, July 11.

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Skip next section Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for father’s death07/11/2026July 11, 2026

Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for father’s death

Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to exact revenge on the United States and Israel for the killing of his father and predecessor as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on February 28, at the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

“Revenge is the demand of the nation and must certainly be carried out,” according to a written statement attributed to Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, which was broadcast on state television.

“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 said, adding that Iran’s “vengeance” was “inevitable.”

Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement on Saturday comes as Iran held funeral ceremonies for the slain supreme leader that lasted several days.

Mojtaba has not been seen in public since the strike that killed his father. The US claims that he sustained severe injuries in that attack in late February.

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https://p.dw.com/p/5GvVWSkip next section Iranian foreign minister arrives in Oman for Hormuz talks07/11/2026July 11, 2026

Iranian foreign minister arrives in Oman for Hormuz talks

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, centre, at the Buergenstock resort
Araghchi has been heavily involved in talks with mediators [FILE: June 2026]Image: Urs Flueeler/KEYSTONE/picture alliance

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Omani capital, Muscat, on Saturday to discuss arrangements to guarantee the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. 

The waterway has been largely closed by Iran since the United States and Israel launched their war on the Islamic Republic in February, and has again become the center of global attention since a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US collapsed.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Gv8HSkip next section New Franco-German policy initiative on Lebanon aims to bring peace to Middle East07/11/2026July 11, 2026

New Franco-German policy initiative on Lebanon aims to bring peace to Middle East

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said Berlin is working with Paris to hammer out a new Franco-German policy initiative on Lebanon.

In an interview with the daily newspaper Tagesspiegel ahead of next week’s meeting of the German-French Ministerial Council, Wadephul said: “We want to formulate a joint policy on Lebanon with France in order to increase the chance of peace in the Middle East.”

The situation in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been fighting Iran-backed militants Hezbollah, has been a major sticking point in peace talks between the US and Iran.

The diplomat also said cooperation between the European capitals aims to end “confusion over competencies” when it comes to foreign policy decisions within the EU, adding that the bloc would continue to push for an end to the wars in Iran as well as Ukraine.

“We should now make a very serious attempt to settle both conflicts,” said Wadephul, adding that neither would end on the battlefield “but at the negotiating table.” 

https://p.dw.com/p/5Gv3rSkip next section Trump says ‘1,000 missiles’ pointed at Iran07/11/2026July 11, 2026

Trump says ‘1,000 missiles’ pointed at Iran

Mourners carry a banner against U.S. President Donald Trump as they gather on the day of the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Mourners carry a banner depicting Trump in crosshairs [FILE: July 9, 2026]Image: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/REUTERS

US President Donald Trump once again threatened to bomb Iran, this time accusing the country of threatening to assassinate him. 

“1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He said Iran threatened, “in many Corners of the Globe,” to assassinate him.

Should that occur, Trump wrote: “Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran – PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!” 

The funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw open calls for his death and people holding signs that read “Kill Trump.”

A woman stands underneath a banner against U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as mourners gather on the day of the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Netanyahu and Trump were targets of Iranian mourners’ anger during Khamenei’s funeral [FILE: July 9, 2026]Image: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/REUTERS

https://p.dw.com/p/5GupASkip next section Tehran has ‘kept its word’ in ceasfire with US — Iranian Foreign Minister07/11/2026July 11, 2026

Tehran has ‘kept its word’ in ceasfire with US — Iranian Foreign Minister

Iran has respected its commitments in a ceasefire with the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X.

“Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called U.S. Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MoU. That violation follows other violations and missteps by the United States. Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance,” Araghchi said.

The US and Iran have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Gup9Skip next section US wants Tehran to publicly pledge halting Hormuz attacks, officials say07/11/2026July 11, 2026

US wants Tehran to publicly pledge halting Hormuz attacks, officials say

Washington is demanding that Tehran publicly vow to end attacks on vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, unnamed senior US officials told media outlets on Friday.

The officials, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said they were making progress in negotiations with top Iranian leaders.

But they stressed they wanted Iran to issue a statement saying its forces would stop attacking ships in the strait to help ensure the progress of negotiations.

“What ​we’re demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open ​and they’re not shooting at ships anymore. They’re either going to give us that statement ​or we’re ‌not having a good outcome for them,” one official was quoted as saying.

US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and the United States over last week when three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire in the strait.

A senior US official told reporters on Friday that Iran said the attacks were from “an errant part of their system.”

https://p.dw.com/p/5GuoySkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/11/2026July 11, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Sean Sinico Editor

Welcome to DW’s coverage of the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

Late on Friday, news outlets cited anonymous US officials as saying that Washington had requested Iran publicly pledge to stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran denied earlier statements by US President Donald Trump, who had claimed that Tehran had requested peace talks with Washington.

Stay with us as we provide updates throughout the day.

https://p.dw.com/p/5GuoxShow more posts

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