Iran's Supreme Leader Calls for Legal Action Against US and Israel Over War Crimes
Legal Action Demanded by Iran's Leadership
Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has urged comprehensive legal measures against the United States and Israel, accusing them of war crimes during the recent hostilities. He has called on Iranian officials to initiate numerous cases in both domestic and international courts. In a series of posts on X, coinciding with Iran's National Week of the Judiciary, Khamenei stated that admissions by American and Israeli leaders regarding military actions against Iran could bolster Tehran's legal stance.
He emphasized that the admissions and even the overt boasting by some leaders of the US-Zionist coalition regarding these actions are clear acknowledgments of wrongdoing, which could facilitate the vindication of the rights of the Iranian people.
Reference to Minab School Attack
Khamenei specifically mentioned the attack on a school in Minab and other assaults in Lamerd, asserting that these incidents led to the deaths of children and civilians during what he termed the 'Second and Third Imposed Wars.' He insisted that every event—from assaults on educational institutions and healthcare facilities to civilian fatalities—should be incorporated into legal actions.
He stated, 'The physical and psychological harm inflicted on each member of the Iranian nation, from the killings of children and war crimes in Minab and Lamerd to assaults on medical centers, constitutes legal cases that must be pursued in both domestic and international courts.'
Khamenei also referred to the deaths of newborns and elderly civilians, as well as the 'martyrdom' of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asserting that each case should be vigorously pursued.
Condemnation of US Airstrikes
These comments came as Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned recent US airstrikes targeting monitoring and surveillance sites along Iran's southern coastline. The ministry accused the US of breaching both the UN Charter and the ceasefire agreement established on June 18, 2026, arguing that these attacks illustrated Washington's unreliability in honoring its commitments.
Tehran's statement characterized the strikes as proof that 'the American regime places no value or credibility on its own commitments.'
Trump's Justification for Military Action
In response, US President Donald Trump defended the military actions, stating that American forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar systems, after accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire. Trump warned that any further violations would provoke an even stronger military response from the US, asserting that the United States was ready to 'wipe out' Iran if attacks persisted.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later confirmed that American forces executed additional precision strikes against various Iranian military targets under Trump's directives.
IRGC's Retaliatory Claims
In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have conducted a coordinated missile-and-drone operation targeting eight US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. The IRGC described this operation as a 'decisive response' to what it termed renewed American aggression, pledging to continue retaliatory measures if further attacks occurred. This latest exchange has heightened concerns that the fragile ceasefire established earlier this month may collapse, raising fears of escalating tensions between Iran, the United States, and their regional allies.