India, July 11 -- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to avenge the killing of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that those responsible would face retribution.

In his first public message following the funeral ceremonies of the late Iranian leader, Mojtaba Khamenei said avenging his father's death was the demand of the Iranian nation and pledged to continue his legacy.

"The blood of the martyr will not go unanswered," Mojtaba said in a statement released after the funeral, adding that Iran would pursue justice against those responsible for the assassination.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly four decades, was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike earlier this year, triggering a major le...