Middle East

Iran’s New Leader Issues First Statement, Says Hormuz Closure Should Be Used as Leverage

Mojtaba Khamenei threatened countries hosting U.S. bases, urging them to shut the facilities or face consequences.
Iran’s New Leader Issues First Statement, Says Hormuz Closure Should Be Used as Leverage
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of late Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Oct. 13, 2024. Hamed Jafarnejad/ISNA/WANA via Reuters
Evgenia Filimianova
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Iran’s newly appointed leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said on March 12 that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed for leverage and vowed retaliation for Iranians killed in the conflict, according to Iran’s state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The statement, delivered in writing rather than in person, marked his first major address since being chosen to replace his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Evgenia Filimianova
Evgenia Filimianova
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Evgenia Filimianova is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of international stories, with a particular interest in foreign policy, economy, and UK politics.