Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against adversaries and demanded the closure of U.S. military bases in the Middle East, threatening attacks on them, in his first public statement since his appointment.
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Regional Threats
Khamenei stated the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should continue to be used as a “tool to pressure the enemy.” Oil prices have risen as shipping through the strait has effectively halted since the start of the conflict, with Iran warning the price per barrel could reach $200.
The statements came in televised comments translated by Reuters. Khamenei also asserted that all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should close immediately, adding that “those bases will be attacked.”
Succession and Retaliation
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s supreme leader on March 9 following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in U.S.-Israeli air strikes that began in late February. Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the attack, which also killed other family members.
“Iran will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs,” Khamenei said, urging unity among the Iranian people.
Leadership and International Reaction
The 56-year-old Khamenei is considered more hardline and conservative than his father, despite maintaining a low profile prior to his succession. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed “disappointment” in his selection, telling Fox News, “I don’t believe he can live in peace.”
The White House’s objectives regarding regime change in Tehran remain unclear, though experts suggest airstrikes alone are unlikely to unseat Iran’s leadership. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure are intensifying, and Iran has responded with retaliatory attacks, including targeting tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz.
Khamenei said Thursday that Iran will seek compensation from its enemies “or destroy their assets accordingly.”
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