As US and Iran prepare for Tuesday talks, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei calls on judiciary to restore nation's rights
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei has urged the judiciary to pursue legal action over alleged US-Israeli war crimes and seek compensation for the damage caused to Iran and its people.
As tensions between the US and Iran escalated last week, Tehran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly called on the Islamic Republic's judiciary to pursue and restore the nation’s rights, Press TV reported Monday.
Khamenei made these remarks on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti and his companions, designated as the Judiciary Week and asked the judiciary to restore the rights that have been violated as a result of the US-Israeli war last year, according to Press TV.
In a Sunday message, Mojtaba Khameneistressed that one of the key legal challenges facing Iran is pursuing justice and restoring rights that he said had been infringed upon by foreign powers he characterised as "international criminals and arrogant and aggressive powers," Press TV reported.
Quick answers to key questions
Mojtaba Khamenei called for Iran's judiciary to restore the nation's rights and pursue legal action against the US and Israel for crimes he claims were committed during recent conflicts.
Khamenei believes that protecting the rights of Iranians involves not only individual legal matters but also the defense of the nation's collective rights against foreign aggressors' crimes.
Khamenei cites the physical, psychological, material, and spiritual damages inflicted on Iran as grounds for hundreds or thousands of legal cases against the US and Israel.
Khamenei's statements followed renewed hostilities and strikes between the US and Iran, creating a context where he felt compelled to address the judiciary's role in seeking justice.
Khamenei urges the judiciary to actively seek legal redress in both domestic and international courts for the infringements committed by foreign powers.
He added that protecting the rights of the Iranians extends beyond individual legal matters and includes defending the nation's collective rights against crimes committed by foreign aggressors. Khamenei reminded the judiciary of its responsibility and said it is tasked with safeguarding citizens' rights, protecting public freedoms and legitimate liberties, fighting corruption, delivering justice, upholding religious laws, and ensuring that the law is properly enforced.
Iran's Supreme Leader calls for legal actions over war crimes
Recalling the two wars of aggression waged by the US and Israel in June 2025 and February this year, Khamenei said the blood of those killed in these two wars, along with the physical, psychological, material and spiritual damage inflicted on Iran and its people in the country and those living abroad, is the basis for hundreds or thousands of legal cases, Press TV reported.
He also invoked the killing of children and unprecedented war crimes in Minab and Lamerd, attacks on medical and public service centres and the deaths of victims ranging from newborn infants to the elderly.
According to Press TV, to strengthen his case, Khamenei argued that several American and Israeli leaders in the past have acknowledged and even taken pride publicly in such acts, which can constitute an admission of committing crimes that could further boost the legal basis for restoring the Islamic Republic's violated rights.
His remarks came days after the US and Iran traded fresh strikes, putting the already fragile ceasefire at renewed risk.
US-Iran trade strikes, blame the other for violation
On 26 June, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a post on X that it launched strikes targeting Iranian sites in response to the drone attack on a Singapore-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz a day ago.
US President Donald Trump accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire by targeting a commercial vessel. In a Truth Social post, he wrote, "One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo-carrying ship," and added that three others were shot down. He further said, “Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
Following US strikes, Tehran retaliated and launched strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait's US bases on 28 June. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also threatened a "complete halt" to negotiations to end the war if Washington continued with its attacks.
Following the tit-for-tat strikes, a senior US official told Axios that the two sides have agreed to halt the strikes in the region and continue with their talks on Tuesday in Qatar's capital. The discussions, previously scheduled to take place in Switzerland and to focus on negotiations to end the war, will now focus on issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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