Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly installed Supreme Leader of Iran, has issued his first public message since assuming leadership, outlining a defiant stance on the ongoing conflict involving the country and its regional adversaries.
The statement, released on Thursday, was delivered in writing and read aloud on state television, while a still photograph of Khamenei was displayed on screen. The unusual format has intensified speculation about his health and whereabouts, as no video or audio recording of the new leader has been released since the conflict began nearly two weeks ago.
Khamenei assumed the position following reports that his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, was killed during strikes linked to the escalating confrontation involving United States and Israel.
In his message, the new leader praised Iran’s armed forces and called for continued resistance against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel. He stressed that Iran must sustain strong defensive actions during the conflict.
A key point of his message focused on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. Khamenei said the threat of blocking the strait should remain a powerful leverage tool in the ongoing crisis, suggesting it could be used to exert pressure on adversaries.
He further disclosed that Iranian authorities were studying the possibility of opening additional fronts in areas where opposing forces may be vulnerable if the conflict continues.
Khamenei also expressed gratitude to allied armed groups across the region, often referred to by Tehran as the “Axis of Resistance.” He acknowledged the support of groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi Movement in Yemen, and other allied militias in Iraq that have backed Iran during the crisis.
A significant portion of the statement was directed at the Iranian public. Khamenei urged citizens to maintain unity and active participation in political and social activities during the wartime period.
He praised what he described as the resilience and courage of the Iranian population in the days following the death of his father, saying the nation’s perseverance had surprised both allies and adversaries.
The new leader also vowed that Iran would continue to pursue retaliation for those killed in the conflict, emphasizing that revenge would not be limited to the death of his father but would extend to all Iranian casualties resulting from the war.
According to him, some retaliatory actions have already occurred, but further responses may follow until what he described as “complete justice” is achieved.
Khamenei also issued a warning to governments in the Middle East that host U.S. military bases on their territories. He stated that Iranian forces had previously targeted some of those bases and indicated that such strikes could continue if those installations are used against Iran.
He urged regional governments to reconsider hosting foreign military facilities, warning that the presence of such bases could expose them to further military action if the conflict escalates.
The message signals a continuation of Iran’s hardline posture under its new leadership and suggests that tensions in the region may remain high as the conflict evolves.
