IRANIAN Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said the Islamic Republic does not seek war with the United States or Israel, but will continue to defend its national rights under all circumstances, according to state television.
“We do not seek war and we do not want it,” he said in a message read out on state television, several weeks after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reported killed on 28 February, the first day of the conflict.
According to AFP, Mojtaba said today: “However, we will not relinquish our rights under any circumstances, and in this regard, we consider the entire axis of resistance as a single entity,”
He was referring to Lebanon, where Israel is engaged in hostilities with Tehran-backed Hezbollah.
Iran this week agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the United States, which could pave the way for peace negotiations following threats of destruction issued by US President Donald Trump.
Mojtaba Khamenei also warned Iranians not to assume that reduced hostilities meant they should withdraw from public engagement.
“Your voice in public squares will certainly influence the outcome of these negotiations,” he said, according to the message broadcast on state television.
He has not appeared publicly since assuming a leadership role, with state media saying he may have been injured in the same attack that killed his father.
His statements have largely been delivered in written form and read out by television presenters.
While US officials, including Trump, have speculated about his condition, Iranian state media have insisted he is recovering from injuries and have aired images said to be of him, without confirming when they were taken. - April 10, 2026
