Days after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei took over from his dead father, and suffering from injuries sustained in a US strike, he released his first message of vengeance for his war-ravaged homeland.

According a British newspaper, the Daily Mirror, “Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is said to be fighting for his life in a coma – but a statement has been issued in his name. Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has also lost at least one leg, according to reports this morning.”

Iran’s new Supreme Leader said in a written statement: “I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs. The revenge we are considering is not only related to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case.”

The message was released by Iranian state television, despite claims he’s lost one leg and suffered serious abdominal injuries in a US-Israeli air strike that wiped out his family. Some reports say he’s in a coma.

He promised to avenge the victims of the American Tomahawk strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school that killed 175 children.

He added: “Of course, a limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will continue to be on top of other cases, and we will be especially sensitive to the blood of our children and grandchildren.”

It remains unclear when Mojtaba suffered the injuries, but the reports come just days after he was appointed to take over from his father, Ali Khamenei.

Gathering for Ramadhan in the same bunker, Mojtaba Khamenei’s father, Ali Khamenei, mother, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, his wife of 20 years, Zahra and one of his sons, reported as Mohammad, were all killed in the strike that launched the war in late February.

Speaking of seeing his dead father, he said: “I had the opportunity to visit his body after his martyrdom; what I saw was a mountain of strength, and I heard that his healthy hand was clenched in a fist.

“Those who know him will have to say a lot about the various aspects of his personality.”

In that strike, Mojtaba suffered a fractured foot, a bruise around his left eye, as well as minor lacerations to his face, a source familiar with the situation told CNN.

Referring to US and Israeli forces as “arrogant”, he said: “Thank you to our brave warriors who, in circumstances where our beloved nation and homeland have been unjustly attacked by the leaders of the arrogant front, have blocked the enemy’s path with their crushing blows and have removed them from the illusion of the possibility of dominating our beloved homeland and possibly dividing it.”

He said his forces would continue to strike ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused chaos in global oil prices.

“Dear brothers in arms! The will of the masses is to continue the effective and regrettable defence.

“Also, the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used. Studies have been conducted on opening other fronts where the enemy has little experience and will be extremely vulnerable, and their activation will take place if the war situation continues.”

He added: “We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if he refuses, we will take as much of his property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property.”

He claimed to have found out he was voted in as the new Ayatollah on state television, like the rest of the nation. The injured leader thanked neighbours in Yemen and 13 other countries in the “Resistance Front” for continuing to defend oppressed Muslims.

He warned: “The enemy has been gradually establishing military and financial bases in some of these countries for years in order to secure its dominance over the region.

“In the recent attack, some military bases were used, and naturally, as we had explicitly warned, we simply attacked those bases without attacking those countries. From now on, we will inevitably continue to do so, although we still believe in the need for friendship between ourselves and those neighbours.”

Reports appear to show that he is seeking treatment in the intensive care unit at Sina University Hospital in Tehran. One anonymous source told The Sun: “One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured.”

It remains unclear if the injuries are from the initial February strike and were more severe than initially reported, or if they are from a new air strike.

The news comes a day after fears surfaced that Mojtaba could seek “personal revenge” after his family members were killed in strikes.

Dr Katayoun Shahandeh, a lecturer in the history of art and museology, told Metro: “It is very likely that retaliation and resistance will become central themes in Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership, at least in rhetoric.

“The strikes that killed the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Mojtaba’s father) and members of his family will inevitably shape the political atmosphere in Tehran.

“Reports suggest that Mojtaba himself was injured in the same attack and lost close relatives, which makes the moment not only political but deeply personal.”

Earlier on Thursday, Iran struck two oil tankers with explosives, causing them to burst into flames off the coast of Iraq. The boats are believed to be laden with explosives and are unmanned, similar to drones – except on water.

Around 1.30 am local time, Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Zefyroswere were hit by an “unknown projectile” off the coast of Iraq, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operation.

The attack resulted in “material damage only”, the report said. Meanwhile Iran has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on two oil tankers in Iraqi waters that left at least one person dead.

• A Tell Media report / Sources: Metro and Daily Mirror