TEHRAN – Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed on Thursday to avenge the deaths of his father and other martyrs, keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed, and target US bases across the region. His statement, broadcast on state television, marked his first public remarks since succeeding his slain father.
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Khamenei demanded the United States remove all its military bases from the Middle East and warned that Iran would either seek compensation or destroy the assets of its enemies. He described the “resistance front” as a core part of the Islamic Revolution and reiterated Iran’s commitment to targeted attacks, claiming that Iran only hits military sites while avoiding civilian targets.
The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities. In Iraq, two tankers were engulfed in flames at a Basra port following attacks by suspected Iranian explosive-laden boats. At least one crew member was reported dead. Earlier, three additional vessels in the Gulf were struck, including a Thai bulk carrier, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guards claimed had disobeyed their orders. Another container ship near the UAE was hit by an unknown projectile.
The ongoing conflict, triggered by a US-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran in late February, has killed around 2,000 people and caused what the International Energy Agency has described as the largest disruption to global energy supplies in history. Drone attacks have also been reported in Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, while Hezbollah in Lebanon fired rockets into Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes on Beirut.
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Global oil prices surged above $100 per barrel as Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for a fifth of the world’s oil, continues. Despite President Donald Trump claiming victory in the conflict, energy markets remain tense, with Iran insisting the strait will remain closed until US and Israeli attacks cease.
The latest developments highlight the widening regional confrontation, with energy security and international stability hanging in the balance.