A state-affiliated Iranian newspaper published an infographic naming 13 foreign leaders as targets for revenge on Saturday [1].
The publication of a "kill list" by a state-run entity signals a severe escalation in rhetoric from Tehran and threatens diplomatic stability across the West and Middle East.
The list was released by Hamshahri, a publication operated by authorities in Tehran [1, 3]. Among the 13 individuals listed [1] are Donald Trump, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Keir Starmer [1, 2].
Mojtaba Khamenei said the list was retaliation for an attack on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [2, 4]. Some reports indicate the revenge targets were named following the death of Mojtaba Khamenei's father [2, 4].
The infographic appeared online late Saturday [1, 3]. The state-affiliated nature of the Hamshahri newspaper suggests the list carries the weight of the Iranian government, though the specific operational intent behind the graphic remains unclear.
Reports regarding the current leadership in Tehran vary. Some sources identify the current supreme leader as Ali Khamenei [2], while others identify the new supreme leader as Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei [2].
This development follows a period of heightened tension between Iran and several of the nations whose leaders appear on the list. The inclusion of current and former heads of state from the U.S., France, Italy, and the U.K. underscores the breadth of the grievances cited by the Tehran-based publication.
“A state-affiliated Iranian newspaper published an infographic naming 13 foreign leaders as targets for revenge.”
The publication of a targeted list in a state-run medium moves Iranian threats from vague diplomatic warnings to specific, public declarations. By naming high-profile leaders from G7 nations and Israel, Iran is utilizing psychological warfare to signal that it views these individuals as legitimate targets for retaliation, which likely increases security protocols for the named diplomats and heightens the risk of miscalculation between these powers.
