According to an Al Jazeera report published on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Iranian cleric Alireza Panahian has called for uncompromising retaliation following the death of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying national interests should be sacrificed if necessary to ensure revenge.
Speaking during funeral-related ceremonies in Tehran, Panahian said Iran was prepared to pursue retribution regardless of the cost. “We are ready to give up all our national interests to avenge our martyred imam, but we will take revenge,” he said, adding, “We will give up everything we have, but we will avenge our master.”
Panahian, who is closely associated with Iran’s conservative establishment, said the country’s response should not be constrained by political or material considerations, echoing calls for retaliation from other hardline figures.
His remarks came as large-scale funeral ceremonies continued across Iran following Khamenei’s reported death in a military strike earlier this year. While state-aligned officials have urged unity, resistance and retaliation, observers note that public reactions have been mixed, with some citizens expressing more subdued responses amid ongoing economic and social challenges.
