According to a report by Al Jazeera on July 11, 2026, Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Technology in Tehran, said millions of Iranians had been calling for retaliation even before the funeral procession of the late Ali Khamenei. He said the public mood had intensified following recent developments surrounding the country’s leadership.
Khoshcheshm told Al Jazeera that widespread gatherings across Iran reflected growing public anger and demands for a response. “Every night that Iranian people appeared in the streets, this is actually a response to the growing public demand,” he said, referring to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement pledging to avenge the killing of his father.
According to the professor, many Iranians believe the country cannot remain silent after the deaths of its top leaders and military commanders. He argued that public pressure has continued to build, with demonstrations in several areas reinforcing calls for decisive action by the government.
“I don’t believe there is anyone in the world who would say that the Americans are justified in killing the Iranian leader and top generals, and Iranians should sit idly,” Khoshcheshm said. “If Americans do not pay the price, they will go on and kill the new supreme leader as they have been warning.”
He maintained that the situation has created an atmosphere in which further confrontation is becoming increasingly likely. Khoshcheshm argued that many people in Iran have lost confidence in the possibility of resolving tensions through agreements alone.
The professor added that “an escalation seems inevitable because Americans have never been loyal to any kind of deal with Iran.” He suggested that this perception has strengthened support among many Iranians for a firmer response, while raising concerns that tensions between Tehran and Washington could continue to deepen in the coming weeks….See More