The Iranian newspaper Hamshahri has published a list of 13 international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, depicting them in orange prison jumpsuits. The publication follows the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026. Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor and son of the late leader, has publicly declared that “revenge is our nation’s will,” though the newspaper did not explicitly state the list represents official state policy.
The “Revenge List” and Political Targets
The list, which features high-ranking officials from the United States, Israel, and Europe, is presented with imagery suggesting the individuals are targets for assassination. According to Hamshahri, the figures are depicted with crosshairs aimed at their foreheads. The group includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and General Brad Cooper.
European leaders are also featured, including outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Israeli officials named on the list include Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and military chief Eyal Zamir. While Hamshahri is a conservative publication owned by the Tehran municipality and known for a provocative editorial stance, its publication of the list coincides with heightened security concerns among Western intelligence agencies.
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Escalating Security Threats to U.S. Leadership
The publication of this list follows reports from U.S. media outlets indicating that Iran had been actively planning to target President Donald Trump. These reports emerged after Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. regarding a “specific” plot against the President. The security climate has forced immediate changes to official travel logistics.
While departing the NATO summit in Turkey, President Trump confirmed his awareness of the threats, noting to the press, “They want to murder the leader of the United States—me. I am on every one of their lists.” According to The Telegraph, the threat level led the President to switch from his primary aircraft to an older, less conspicuous plane for his return journey.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s Shift in Rhetoric
The public rhetoric from the new Iranian leadership has become increasingly bellicose since the transition of power. During his first address following his father’s funeral, Mojtaba Khamenei emphasized that revenge for the February 28 strikes is a national necessity. “These criminals, whose names are on a list, will take with them to their graves the wish for a peaceful death in their beds,” he stated.
While the regime has not officially ratified the Hamshahri list as a government directive, the alignment between the newspaper’s graphic publication and the Supreme Leader’s rhetoric marks a significant escalation in tensions. The situation remains fluid as Western nations assess the credibility of the threats against their respective heads of state.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is on the Iranian “revenge list”?
The list includes 13 individuals, primarily from the U.S. and Israel, such as Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, and Friedrich Merz. - Is the list an official government declaration?
No. While the publication is linked to the Tehran municipality and follows statements by Mojtaba Khamenei, the newspaper did not state that the list reflects the official policy of the Iranian state. - Why did Donald Trump change his travel plans?
According to reports in The Telegraph, Trump shifted to an older aircraft following intelligence shared by Israel regarding a specific assassination plot against him.
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