Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written statement attributed to him, criticised Washington for what he described as constituted repeated breaches of the commitments made under the temporary ceasefire agreement, and promised to teach the US ‘unforgettable lessons’.
“Now that the American enemy is seeking to ignite a war and suffer its most serious consequences, it must know that the dear Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have unforgettable lessons to offer it,” he said in a statement broadcast on state television late on the evening of 18 July.
He added that US violations of the framework agreement “have demonstrated to everyone the worthlessness of the American president’s signature”.
Over the past seven nights, US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure following Iran’s firing on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which, according to Washington, constituted a breach of the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both sides last month.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the attacks were aimed at undermining Tehran’s ability to attack ships in the strait.
Khamenei, the 56-year-old son and successor to Iran’s long-standing leader, has not appeared in public since the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the US-Israeli strikes on 28 February. He is reported to have sustained serious injuries during the attack, raising questions about his health and his ability to fulfil his duties as Supreme Leader.
There have been no known audio or video recordings of Mojtaba Khamenei since 28 February. He was not seen during the six days of ceremonies and rallies held during his father’s funeral in early July.
Experts have stated that his absence from the funeral dealt a further blow to Khamenei’s legitimacy and heightened the question of who is actually running the Middle Eastern country with a population of around 90 million. According to the authorities, he did not attend his father’s funeral due to security concerns.
Mojtaba Khamenei was a controversial choice as Supreme Leader. Whilst his appointment symbolised continuity during wartime, it also angered government supporters, who claimed that the hereditary system of power betrayed the anti-monarchist roots of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Despite his absence from public life, US intelligence agencies claim that Mojtaba Khamenei likely still plays an important role in military strategy and the management of peace talks with the US.
Prior to the publication of Khamenei’s statement, senior Iranian officials said on 18 July that the framework agreement with Washington had effectively been ‘suspended’ following the latest US air strikes.
The day before, Iranian Major-General Mohsen Rezaei had warned that Tehran was prepared to resume “full-scale offensive operations” if US strikes against it continued for another two or three days.