Tehran: Senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi asserts that those accountable for the assassination of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, will inevitably face 'divine punishment and just retribution.'

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, in a message released on Sunday coinciding with the farewell ceremony for the martyred Leader, Makarem Shirazi highlighted the significant public turnout as a testament to the Iranian nation's allegiance to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution. The farewell ceremony, which commenced in Tehran on Saturday, is set to conclude on Sunday evening and will be followed by a funeral procession in the capital the subsequent day. Martyr Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several commanders, was assassinated by the United States and Israel on February 28, marking the onset of the war of aggression initiated by these regimes against Iran.

'The perpetrators of this heinous crime, whose hands are stained with the blood of the martyred Leader, military commanders, officials, defenseless civilians, and innocent children, will not escape divine punishment or just retribution. The blood of these martyrs will never be forgotten, and the Muslim Ummah will continue to pursue justice for them within the framework of Islamic law and legal principles,' the message declared.

Makarem Shirazi further emphasized that the confrontation with the 'front of global arrogance' persists. He cautioned that any efforts to instill despair, weaken public morale, or undermine Iranian officials and the Armed Forces would ultimately benefit the nation's adversaries.

The cleric urged Iranian officials, the Armed Forces, and decision-makers to leverage national capabilities, public resilience, and faith while addressing challenges with prudence, strength, and vigilance across military, diplomatic, and other arenas. He noted that past experiences have demonstrated that retreating in the face of aggression only invites further attacks.

Additionally, the senior cleric underscored the significance of maintaining national unity, warning that differences of opinion should not be allowed to create division or weaken the country's internal front.