Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows retaliation
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday issued his first public message, stating that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed and be used as leverage against Iran’s enemies amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
In the message broadcast by a news anchor on Iranian state television, Mojtaba also warned Iran’s Gulf neighbours to shut down all United States military bases, adding that attacks on those bases would continue.
He said Iran’s military actions were currently focused on US bases across the West Asia region, while dismissing American security assurances to regional allies.
“The protection promised by the US is nothing more than a lie,” he said.
Message delivered through state television
Mojtaba did not appear on camera during the broadcast. According to an assessment cited by the news agency Associated Press, Israeli officials believe he may have been injured during attacks in the early days of the war.
The message marks Mojtaba’s first official communication since assuming leadership following the death of his father, Iran’s longtime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Vows revenge for ‘martyrs’
The new Iranian leader also vowed to avenge the deaths of those he described as “martyrs”, including children killed in the attack on a school in Minab during the opening day of the conflict.
Rejecting any immediate signs of de-escalation, Mojtaba said Iran would seek compensation from its enemies, either by seizing their assets or inflicting equivalent damage.
Strait of Hormuz tensions trigger global energy concerns
Mojtaba’s remarks come as the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel approaches the two-week mark, escalating tensions across the region.
The crisis has triggered a global energy shock after maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was effectively disrupted.
The narrow waterway along Iran’s southern coast is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling nearly one-fifth of global oil supply, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets.
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