Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows Hormuz closure, targets U.S. bases
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei used his first public address since taking office to insist that the closure of the Hormuz Strait must continue as a strategic lever to pressure opponents. In the televised statement, he warned that all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should be shut immediately, or they could be attacked. He also signaled the possibility of widening conflict across additional fronts if the war persists, potentially dragging the region into broader fighting.
Khamenei, 56 and described as hardline, spoke after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran for decades, died following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that targeted his residence. The son was reported to have been wounded in those strikes. In his address, Mojtaba Khamenei framed Iran as resolute in pursuing revenge for “martyrs’ blood” and urged national unity amid the crisis.
The closing of the Hormuz Strait, a critical chokepoint through which a substantial portion of global oil and gas passes, has become a focal point of the current tensions. The article notes that about 20% of world oil and gas shipments traverse the Hormuz route, meaning a prolonged blockage could send shockwaves through energy markets and financial markets worldwide.
The conflict has already seen Iran’s missile and drone strikes expanding to neighboring states, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Those actions have contributed to spikes in global oil prices, with Brent crude briefly approaching $100 a barrel on London trading floors.
The development matters to the United States for several reasons. First, the Hormuz chokepoint directly affects U.S. energy security and global oil markets, given America’s role as a leading energy producer and its large consumer economy. Second, a prolonged confrontation raises the risk of wider regional instability that could disrupt supply chains, military posture, and allied security commitments in the Middle East. Finally, the shift in risk could influence U.S. sanctions policy, international diplomacy, and the pricing of energy and financial assets worldwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented in recent days that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a higher priority than oil prices and indicated a willingness to sustain military operations. He also argued, on his social platform, that as the world’s largest oil producer, rising oil prices would financially benefit the United States, underscoring how energy markets intersect with broader security policy.
In summary, Mojtaba Khamenei’s message signals a hardline stance centered on maintaining pressure through Hormuz closure and threatening attacks on regional bases, while hinting at possible wider war if hostilities persist. The implications extend beyond Iran’s borders, affecting global energy security, market volatility, and U.S. strategic calculations in the Middle East. Verification of the journalistically reported claims will depend on further statements from Tehran and subsequent actions on the ground.