Hossein Shariatmadari, a representative of the Islamic Republic's leader at Kayhan newspaper, accused Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan of direct involvement in the recent war and stated they must face retaliation. He also said that while negotiating with America and these Arab countries is part of the regime's mechanism, the war cannot end without exacting harsh revenge against those responsible for the death of Ali Khamenei.