Iran's supreme leader says legal cases must be pursued against US, Israel over 'child killings, war crimes'

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday called for legal action against the United States and Israel over what he described as “child killings and war crimes” committed in Iran.

In a written message marking the anniversary of the 1981 assassination of former judiciary chief Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti and other senior officials, Mojtaba stressed the need to pursue justice for crimes committed against the Iranian people. The statement was shared through his official X account and carried by Iranian media.

Khamenei said one of Iran’s top judicial priorities should be seeking accountability for rights violations allegedly committed by the US and Israel during the conflicts of 1404 and 1405 in the Iranian calendar, referring to the 2025 Israel-Iran war and the conflict that erupted following US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.

He alleged that attacks on civilians, including children, medical facilities, and residential areas in cities such as Minab and Lamerd, had caused widespread physical and psychological harm.

According to Khamenei, each incident constitutes a separate legal case that should be pursued in both Iranian and international courts. He also referred to the killing of his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as one of many cases requiring legal action.

The Iranian leader argued that statements by US and Israeli officials acknowledging or defending their actions amounted to admissions of wrongdoing.

He said Iranian authorities should continue investigating the alleged crimes until legal judgments are secured, adding that holding those responsible accountable would help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The latest conflict began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and later expanded across the Middle East as Iran targeted US military assets in the Gulf and blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Although a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was reached on April 8 and an Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was signed on June 18 to promote lasting peace, renewed exchanges of strikes and accusations over the weekend have raised concerns that the truce may be unraveling.