Iran military chief pledges to ‘avenge the blood’ of slain leader

Major General Amir Hatami, commander-in-chief of Iran's armed forces, pledged retaliation against the United States and 'Israel' over the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the February 28 airstrike that triggered the war on Iran.

Speaking on the sidelines of Khamenei's funeral in Tehran, Hatami said Iran would continue to pursue revenge for the slain leader.

"With a firmer resolve, we declare to the enemies of the Iranian nation, America and the criminal Zionist regime, that we will avenge the blood of the martyred leader [Khamenei]," Hatami said.