First post from Khamenei's X account after his killing warns Israel of consequences: ‘Big mistake’

Following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a message on X ominously warned Israel of severe consequences.

Published on: Mar 07, 2026 11:32 AM IST

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The first message posted from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s X account after his assassination warned of serious repercussions to the “big mistake” the “zionist regime” made, as tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate following the killing of the long-time cleric.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Tehran. (AP)

The post comes a week after Khamenei was confirmed dead in the US-Israel strikes on Iran last weekend.

“The Zionist regime has made a big mistake, and its consequences will make the regime desperate, by God's grace,” the post said, in what appeared to be a warning directed at Israel. The message came days after Khamenei, 86, was killed in a joint US-Israel military strike on Iranian territory that also targeted senior Iranian officials and military figures.

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Khamenei was killed when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on his compound near Pasteur Street in Tehran as part of a broader military operation. The strikes reportedly followed years of intelligence surveillance by Israeli and American agencies, which mapped the Iranian capital in detail and monitored the daily movements of the supreme leader’s security detail to determine the timing of the attack.

ALSO READ | Khamenei stayed above ground despite war warnings. Here's why

The operation came after US President Donald Trump authorised the campaign while aboard Air Force One, with Israeli aircraft reportedly dropping dozens of precision-guided munitions on the complex, HT earlier reported.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iranian authorities announced a three-day farewell ceremony for the late leader at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla prayer ground, according to Iranian state media.

The killing of Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989 and was only the second supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, has shaken the country’s political system and triggered intense speculation over his successor. Several reports have suggested that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could be his successor, although Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed this.

ALSO READ | Khamenei’s death shakes Islamic Republic, Iran switches to survival mode

The assassination has also intensified geopolitical tensions. US President Trump has said he wanted to be personally involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader and criticised the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei taking power, describing him as “unacceptable” and warning that continuing his father’s policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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