By Abioye Tosin Lawrence Orion Times — March 2, 2026 Tehran / Global: The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has formally declared that pursuing retaliation after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not only a legitimate right but a moral duty of the nation. In a statement carried by Iranian state media on Sunday, President Pezeshkian described the assassination, attributed to joint military strikes by the United States and Israel as a “historic crime” that demands a firm and decisive response. He said the government and all patriotic Iranians will work to ensure justice and accountability. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers avenging the perpetrators and those who ordered this crime, both a duty and a legitimate right, and will devote all its strength to fulfilling this great responsibility,” Pezeshkian said. An Escalation of Regional Tensions The death of Ayatollah Khamenei, a central figure in Iran’s political and religious le...