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Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant statement today pledging revenge for the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that those responsible will be pursued regardless of who holds power in Tehran.

In a written message, the younger Khamenei vowed that Iran would retaliate not only for his father’s killing but also for the deaths of those killed during the recent conflicts.

“We swear to avenge your pure blood (Ali Khamenei) and that of all the martyrs who fell in these two wars at the hands of the murderers,” the younger Khamenei wrote, adding that, “This revenge is the demand of our nation and it must definitely be carried out soon.”

He also promised to continue his father’s legacy, saying Iran’s pursuit of revenge would not be deterred by changes in leadership.

“Now, when we part with teary eyes and broken hearts from your body, we swear that we will keep your word and, standing strong, we will walk straight along your path, which you showed us.

“These sinners, of whom there is a detailed list – they must know that this matter (revenge), is not dependent on my presence as a person or the presence of the rest of the officials. Whether we will be or will not be, this demand will be fulfilled.”

The threats were reinforced by Hamshahri, one of Iran’s leading newspapers, which published what it described as a list of those allegedly responsible for Ayatollah Khamenei’s death. The list appeared beneath the headline, “Revenge Is Certain,” alongside another warning attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei: “The criminals will take their wish for a peaceful death to the grave.”

Among those named were Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Brad Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as well as the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.

The United States carried out a third round of military strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces attacked a commercial cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command announced.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the latest operation began this evening following what it described as an unprovoked Iranian assault on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container vessel.

“At 7:15 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM stated.

According to the military, one civilian crew member remains unaccounted for, while the vessel suffered extensive damage that left it unable to continue its voyage.

“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage.”

CENTCOM said Iran had been given another opportunity to comply with the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding after previous attacks on commercial shipping but chose instead to continue its aggression.

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels, but has again failed.”

The U.S. military said the strikes are intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten international maritime traffic in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”

CENTCOM concluded by emphasizing that the military operation was authorized directly by President Donald Trump.

“The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief,” the statement concluded.

Reacting to the operation, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a brief message on social media warning Iran of the consequences of its actions: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”

Apple has launched a sweeping lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two of its senior employees of stealing confidential Apple technology to accelerate OpenAI’s push into the AI hardware market.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and technical staff member Chang Liu improperly took Apple’s proprietary information after leaving the company. According to the complaint, both men previously held positions at Apple and used confidential knowledge to advance OpenAI’s hardware ambitions.

Beyond the actions of the two employees, Apple claims the conduct was not isolated, accusing OpenAI itself of participating in what it describes as a “coordinated pattern of misconduct at an institutional level.”

“This case is about Apple’s former employees stealing Apple’s trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI,” the complaint states. “Apple brings this suit to put a stop to it.”

According to the filing, Tan spent more than 20 years at Apple, where he played a key role in developing products including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPod. The lawsuit further alleges that Liu, who worked as an Apple electrical engineer for eight years, had access to some of the company’s most closely guarded product development secrets.

Responding to the lawsuit, an Apple spokesperson said Friday that the company will “always defend our teams’ hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so.”

Although OpenAI has yet to disclose the specific hardware products it intends to release, the company has publicly stated that it is exploring new methods for people to interact with artificial intelligence beyond “traditional products and interfaces” as it expands into physical devices.

The legal battle comes as OpenAI moves toward what many expect will be a blockbuster initial public offering. In its complaint, Apple contends that OpenAI has strayed from its original nonprofit mission in favor of maximizing revenue while launching “an aggressive campaign to bring hardware devices to the market.”

Apple further alleges that intense pressure to introduce its first hardware product led OpenAI to cut corners. According to the lawsuit, the company “resorted to taking unlawful shortcuts.”

The complaint argues that OpenAI’s developing hardware division “now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.”

Apple also claims it attempted to address its concerns privately before turning to the courts, saying it contacted OpenAI regarding allegations that the company had obtained Apple’s confidential information. According to the lawsuit, OpenAI never responded.

“This lawsuit and the discovery process are needed to expose and begin to remedy the pervasive theft of Apple’s trade secrets,” the suit states.

{Matzav.com}