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Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Iran Supreme Leader, attended a meeting in Tehran on October 13, 2024. (Reuters/File)
Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement Thursday, indicating that a new era is beginning for the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of conflict involving the U.S. and Israel on February 28.
He emphasized Tehran’s commitment to safeguarding the Gulf region and eradicating what he called “the enemy’s misuse of the waterway.”
Khamenei stated that overseeing the Strait of Hormuz differently would foster stability, growth, and economic advantages for all Gulf countries.
“Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by regional bullies and after the U.S. faces a humiliating defeat in its plans, a new chapter is opening for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” he declared, asserting Iran’s influence over maritime traffic through the strait.
Khamenei was injured in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and has not appeared publicly since being appointed his successor last month.
The U.S. recently imposed a blockade on Iran’s ports, even as Iran has continued to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East conflict began in February.
A State Department official told AFP that Washington is attempting to form an international coalition of allied nations and shipping companies to coordinate secure passage through Hormuz while maintaining its own blockade of ships linked to Iran.
“Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian responded, condemning the blockade as a violation of international law and warning it would disrupt the stability of the Persian Gulf,” saying it would be “counterproductive to long-term stability.”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and an influential figure, suggested that control of Hormuz might allow Iran to “secure a future free from American interference for itself and neighboring countries.”
Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on potential military options in Iran from CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper. Reports suggest Trump has advised oil executives and security officials to prepare for a prolonged U.S. blockade aimed at forcing Iran to abandon its nuclear pursuits.
Recently, U.S. CENTCOM announced completing a major milestone by redirecting the 42nd commercial vessel in efforts to enforce the blockade, which has kept over 69 million barrels of oil worth more than $6 billion out of Iran’s reach.
Oil prices surged to their highest in four years, with Brent crude exceeding $126 per barrel — an increase of over 7% — before retreating slightly during midday trading in London.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the closure of Hormuz was choking the global economy, while International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol called it the “largest energy crisis in history.”
European Central Bank officials cautioned that prolonged conflict and elevated energy costs could significantly impact inflation and the broader economy.
Domestically, President Trump faces mounting pressure to end the war, which remains unpopular among many of his supporters, has increased costs for American consumers, and unsettled allies. Iran’s economy continues to suffer, with the rial hitting record lows against the dollar.
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