A prominent conservative Iranian newspaper has published an infographic targeting 13 Western and Israeli leaders, following vows of retaliation from Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The publication by Hamshahri—a newspaper run by Tehran’s municipal authorities—follows a statement by Mojtaba Khamenei declaring that Iran has compiled a specific list of individuals targeted for assassination. While the Supreme Leader did not name specific targets in his official address, the newspaper published its own visual list online late Saturday.
The Context of the Threats
The diplomatic escalation stems from the February 28 airstrikes by US and Israeli forces that killed the previous Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking the current regional war.
In his first major address since his father’s recent funeral, Mojtaba Khamenei warned: “Vengeance is the will of our nation… These criminals, whose names appear on a list, will take to their graves the wish of a peaceful death in their beds.”
Key Figures Named in the Media Campaign
While not explicitly confirmed as an official state hit list, the Hamshahri infographic targeted major political figures across the US, Israel, and Europe, including:
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United States: President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Europe: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Rising Tensions with Europe
The inclusion of European heads of state highlights Iran’s growing hostility toward Western Europe. Throughout the conflict, Tehran has repeatedly accused European nations of complicity, citing their failure to condemn the strikes on Iranian soil and their decision to grant airspace clearance to US military aircraft.
