Iran VP: Punishing Leader's assassins is a sovereign duty

Iran's First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref stated on Monday that punishing the assassins of the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution is a sovereign duty of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X, addressing the national demand for justice expressed by millions of mourners during the funeral procession for the late Leader and his family members.

The late Leader and his family were martyred in a terrorist US-Israeli strike on February 28. According to a Press TV report, Aref said the calls reflected the legitimate demand of the Iranian people for accountability. "The rightful demand of the nation to punish the assassins, which was raised during the epic funeral procession, is a legitimate request and consistent with the international principles of self-defense," he wrote.

Aref emphasized that the realization of the Islamic Republic of Iran's right to definitive punishment of the perpetrators of this crime is a sovereign duty that will be fulfilled through strategic rationality. Millions of mourners gathered in Tehran for the historic funeral ceremonies of the late Leader, with many participants calling for justice and accountability for the perpetrators of the assassination. Officials say the public gathering is the largest in Iran's modern history.

According to Mehr News Agency, the vice president's statement underscores the Iranian government's commitment to pursuing the case through legal and strategic channels, while respecting international norms.