Martyr of Ramadan;
Leader’s Exalted Soul Ascends to Highest Heavens
‘Trump, Netanyahu crossed Iran’s red line and will pay the price’
Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was martyred following a joint act of aggression by Israel and the US on his humble residence in Tehran on Saturday morning.
An exemplar of faith and resistance against tyranny and arrogance, he sagaciously and courageously guided Iran and championed Islam for over 37 years until the final moment of his blessed life.
The government has declared 40 days of public mourning and seven days of holidays following his martyrdom.
Armed Forces to avenge martyred Leader, commanders
Several other cowardly assassinations were carried out simultaneously on the lives of senior Iranian military commanders on the same day.
Chairman of the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Pakpour, Minister of Defense Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Representative of the Leader in the Supreme Defense Council Ali Shamkhani were martyred on Saturday.
Their respective replacements were immediately announced as the country has been preparing for this event, especially since the 12-Day War in June.
The IRGC has vowed to avenge the blood of the martyrs until a complete defeat is imposed upon the malicious enemies of Iran.
The statement added that it will safeguard the security, national interests, and territorial integrity of the country.
The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a statement on Sunday, emphasized that the path of that martyred leader will be continued until the last breath and affirmed its standing as a strong fortress of the nation.
Nation, allies enraged
People in different Iranian cities have held spontaneous gatherings to vent their anger at the assassination of their leader and commanders as well as the ongoing war of aggression by the United States and Israel against their country.
Crowds of people filled the streets and iconic squares in at least a dozen cities, including the capital Tehran, since the early hours of the unlawful strikes that happened only two days before scheduled fourth round of talks in Vienna over Iran’s nuclear program.
Protesters chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” in a show of anger at the two regimes. They also voiced their support for the Iranian Armed Forces in their operations to defend the country.
In a message of condolence following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that the assassination of this great commander of the Islamic Ummah constitutes a clear war by “the most wicked of oppressors” against Muslims, particularly Shias worldwide.
The president emphasized that the Islamic Republic considers seeking retribution from the perpetrators and instigators of this historic crime as its legitimate duty and right.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have crossed Iran’s red line and will pay the price.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani stressed that the Americans cannot bully the Iranian nation, adding: “Iran was not and is not seeking war, but if a war is imposed on us, we will not let them walk away.”
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a message of condolences, saying the criminal assassinations, unprovoked military aggression, and the killing of innocent civilians by the US and Israel marks a “dangerous perversion” toward the rule of force.
Enraged and mournful, peoples of several nations, including Iraq, India, and Pakistan, have also rallied to the streets while messages of condolences poured in from many governments and allies of the Islamic Republic after the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Iraqi government has announced three days of public mourning and offered condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Islamic world.
Iraq’s prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has called for the unity of the people of Iran, adding they are expected not to let the aggressors reach their sinister goals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his sincere sympathy and support to the family and close relatives of Ayatollah Khamenei, as well as the Iranian government and people. He also called the assassination a violation of all norms of human ethics and international laws.
Various members of the Axis of Resistance, including the Yemeni Ansarullah, the Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, emphasized that targeting leaders would not deter resistance forces from continuing their path and honoring Ayatollah Khamenei.