Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei delivered his first official statement since taking power, outlining Iran’s position in the ongoing war and warning that attacks on U.S. military bases in the region will continue as long as the conflict persists.
In his address, Khamenei said Iran was forced into confrontation after being attacked from American bases located in neighboring countries, arguing that those installations were used to launch strikes against Iranian territory. He stated that Iran considers these bases legitimate targets and urged regional governments to immediately close U.S. military facilities operating on their soil.
Khamenei emphasized that Iran does not seek conflict with neighboring states and reiterated that the country believes in maintaining friendly and constructive relations with regional countries. However, he warned that as long as attacks against Iran originate from foreign bases in the region, Iranian forces will be compelled to continue striking them.
The new leader also addressed the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, calling on Iranian institutions to use all available capabilities to potentially disrupt the strategic waterway if the war escalates further. The strait is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, through which a significant portion of global oil exports passes.
In the speech, Khamenei praised what he described as the “Resistance Front,” thanking allied groups across the region for supporting Iran during the conflict. He specifically mentioned Hezbollah in Lebanon, armed factions in Iraq, and other allied movements, describing them as loyal partners standing alongside Iran despite intense pressure.
Khamenei also warned that new battlefronts could be activated in areas where Iran’s adversaries have little operational experience, signaling the possibility of further escalation beyond the current theaters of conflict.
He vowed that Iran would continue retaliating for what he described as crimes committed against the Iranian people, including recent attacks that resulted in civilian casualties. According to the statement, every Iranian killed in the conflict would receive what he called “specific revenge.”
At the same time, Khamenei attempted to frame Iran’s position as defensive, stating that Iranian strikes have disrupted enemy plans and prevented attempts to dominate or divide the country. He claimed that Iranian military operations have forced adversaries to reconsider their assumptions about the war.
The new leader also called on the Iranian public to remain fully mobilized across political, military, and economic fronts, urging citizens to participate in efforts to defeat what he described as enemy plots targeting the country.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Khamenei concluded by reiterating that Iran shares borders with 15 neighboring countries and remains willing to build constructive diplomatic relations with them, provided they do not allow their territory to be used for attacks against Iran.
