Reportedly seriously injured, Mojtaba Khamenei comes alive: US and Israel to kneel and admit defeat

2026-03-17 16:29:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Reportedly seriously injured, Mojtaba Khamenei comes alive: US and Israel to

Iran's new supreme leader has rejected proposals to reduce tensions conveyed to Tehran by mediators, demanding that Israel and the United States first be "brought to their knees," a senior Iranian official said Tuesday.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei held his first foreign policy meeting since his appointment as supreme leader and took a stance on retaliation against the US and Israel, which the official said was "very harsh and serious," without clarifying whether he participated physically or remotely.

The senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, said two intermediary countries had forwarded proposals to Iran’s Foreign Ministry for “de-escalation or a ceasefire with the United States.” He did not provide further details about the proposals or the mediators. He said the supreme leader had responded that it was “not the right time for peace until the United States and Israel come to their knees, admit defeat and pay reparations.”

The supreme leader has final say on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic. No new images of him have been released since he was selected more than a week ago by an assembly of clerics to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some Iranian officials have said he was lightly wounded in the attacks that killed his father, while U.S. officials have suggested he suffered serious injuries.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has entered its third week, with at least 2,000 casualties and no end in sight. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, while US allies have rejected President Donald Trump's request to help reopen the vital sea route, raising energy prices and fears of inflation.

In his first public message since his election, read on state television last week, the new supreme leader declared that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a means of pressure on "Iran's enemies."

The Trump administration has rejected efforts by Middle Eastern allies to initiate diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran.


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