Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has accused the United States and Israel of assassinating his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Fars News Agency, Mojtaba Khamenei said revenge was a demand of the Iranian people and had to be carried out at all costs. “Revenge is a demand of our nation and must be carried out at all costs,” read the statement attributed to the new supreme leader.

Addressing his late father in the same message, Khamenei pledged retribution for his father’s blood and for that of others killed in the two military conflicts. “We pledge to avenge your pure blood and the blood of all the martyrs of these two wars at the hands of the criminals and dishonorable murderers,” the message said.