Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed inevitable revenge for the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, and family members in US-Israeli strikes, declaring retaliation a national demand that will occur "soon" regardless of his own survival.

In a written statement released on Saturday, following the conclusion of week-long funeral ceremonies in Mashhad, Mojtaba promised that the "criminal and disgraced killers," whose names are documented, would not die peacefully. The new leader, who has not appeared publicly since sustaining injuries in the February 28 attacks, emphasized that vengeance is a "divine mission" for the Iranian nation.

“Revenge for Iran’s martyred leader is the will of our people, and it must certainly be carried out," Mojtaba wrote. "These criminals, all of whom are fully identified, from the most senior to the most junior, will take to their graves the dream of dying peacefully in their beds.”

President Donald Trump responded with an explicit threat on Truth Social, stating that 1,000 missiles are "locked and loaded" and aimed at Iran, with thousands more ready to follow if Tehran attempts to assassinate him. Trump ordered the US military to be prepared to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran" for a one-year period should any attack on his life occur, citing intelligence regarding hardline factions' aspirations.

While US officials noted no evidence of a unified, specific assassination plot currently in motion, the exchange of threats has severely strained relations just weeks after a temporary peace memorandum was signed.

Meanwhile diplomatic talks in Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz concluded without an agreement, as Iran rejected proposals for separate navigation routes and refused US demands to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the interim deal by revoking oil waivers following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, while the US insisted the ceasefire is effectively "over" due to these maritime hostilities.

With Iran maintaining that control of the strategic waterway rests exclusively with Tehran, the failure of these negotiations raises the risk of further military escalation in the Persian Gulf.

Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former Conservative MP, MEP, and Reform UK spokesperson, was found dead at her Dartmoor home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday, with serious head injuries, prompting an active murder investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Widdecombe was last seen communicating with staff on Wednesday, July 8, around 12:19 BST; police believe she was attacked at approximately 12:30 BST that day, roughly 24 hours before her body was discovered by ambulance personnel at 11:40 BST on Thursday.

A 26-year-old British man was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday, July 10, but was released from custody on Saturday morning and is no longer considered a suspect, though police continue to hunt for a male suspect.

Authorities have ruled out terrorism and stated there is currently no information to suggest the crime was politically motivated, though Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speculated it could have been a burglary gone wrong.

Widdecombe served as the MP for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010, holding roles as a Home Office and employment minister in John Major’s government. She later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party (2019–2020) before becoming a key spokesperson for Reform UK.

After leaving Parliament, she gained widespread recognition as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (2010) and Celebrity Big Brother (2018), maintaining a profile as a staunch socially conservative voice and free speech advocate.

Widdecombe's death has reignited concerns regarding the safety of UK politicians, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging the public to avoid speculation and allow the investigation to proceed

President Donald Trump on Friday, posted on Truth Social that the Islamic Republic of Iran has asked to continue "talks" and that the U.S. agreed, but he emphatically stated "the Cease Fire is OVER!" in no uncertain terms. Qatari mediators are reportedly in Iran for talks in coordination with the U.S. and Pakistan.

While Trump confirmed ongoing diplomatic engagement, he said the June ceasefire agreement is nullified following recent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” he wrote.

The "Cease Fire" Trump referred to was a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on June 17, 2026. This interim deal was intended to pause the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran—which originally erupted on February 28, 2026—and restore the flow of international shipping.

However, the truce collapsed earlier this week when Iran attcked three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week. Iran blamed U.S. attempt to undermine the Persian nation's management of transit through the Strait.

The U.S. has reportedly given Iran until Saturday (July 11, 2026) to issue a formal, public statement. Washington is demanding that Tehran explicitly declare that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all international transit and pledge an immediate halt to all attacks on commercial vessels. U.S. officials have warned that if Iran continues to disrupt shipping or engage in hostile acts, the military will resume heavy strikes.

Compounding the geopolitical tension, Trump revealed during a phone interview with the New York Post on Friday, that he has prepared a severe military contingency plan in the event that Iran successfully targets him.

“I’ve been on their list for a long time. That’s what we’re dealing with… The only thing is, I’ve left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” Trump claimed.

Israel reportedly shared fresh intelligence with U.S. officials tracking specific Iranian plots against Trump. While Trump publicly downplayed the new intelligence in his interview, U.S. intelligence agencies have been monitoring a steady stream of threats, but are skeptical of Israel's intelligence and motives.

The rhetoric has reached a boiling point during the multiday mass funeral proceedings in Iran for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. At the state-sponsored viewings, massive banners calling for Trump's death were prominently displayed by the regime. Tehran has openly vowed vengeance against Trump ever since the 2020 strike that killed Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.