Iran Pledges Severe Retaliation Following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Death in US-Israel Attack
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has vowed to punish the “assassins” of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, declaring it will deliver severe and consequential retaliation against its enemies. “The hand of retaliation of the Iranian nation for heavy, decisive, and regrettable punishment of the Imam of the Nation will not release them,” the Revolutionary Guard stated in a declaration reported by AFP on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced retaliatory operations will broadly target US military and security positions as well as the Zionist Israeli regime using missiles more advanced than those deployed in Operation True Promise 3. Iran vowed to deliver more precise and destructive strikes.
IRGC forces stated they are prepared to target both fixed and mobile enemy positions across the region with Iranian missiles and drones. Previously, the IRGC announced on Saturday evening that an American vessel, the MST, was hit by Iranian Navy missile strikes.
The United States and Israel launched air strikes on cities across 24 provinces throughout Iran, occurring only two days before scheduled talks in Vienna regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. The talks, scheduled for Monday, mark the fourth round of negotiations between Iranian and US representatives held in February.
The third round took place in Geneva on Thursday, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterpart from Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who has served as mediator in all negotiations, reported progress.
However, on 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel conducted strikes that Iran characterises as violations of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic. Iran stated the strikes targeted numerous defence and civilian facilities across various cities throughout the country.
On Sunday, 1 March, Iran confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei resulting from the strikes. Iran also announced a 40-day period of national mourning.