Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz in his first statement since taking power, signaling that Tehran intends to maintain pressure on global energy routes during the ongoing war.
In a written message read on Iranian state television, Khamenei said the closure of the strategic waterway should remain in place as leverage against the United States and Israel while hostilities continue.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors, carrying roughly 20% of global oil supplies between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Disruption to traffic there has already triggered sharp swings in global oil markets and raised concerns about energy shortages.
Khamenei also warned that Iran would continue attacks against regional targets linked to U.S. military operations, while vowing retaliation for those killed during the war.
Analysts say the statement signals a hardline stance from Tehran’s new leadership and reduces hopes for a quick end to the conflict.
