Iran's Supreme Leader's First Official Message Read on TV, Threatens U.S. Bases

Iran’s state broadcaster aired the supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s first official statement since his inauguration on the 12th, but without any appearance by him. The message was read by a television anchor, while Khamenei’s photograph and Iran’s flag were shown on screen.

The broadcast did not include video or audio from the leader. In the statement, he did not name the United States or Israel directly, referring instead to “the enemy,” and he vowed to demand compensation and to destroy the enemy’s assets if necessary. He reaffirmed that Iran could continue to strike U.S. bases in the region.

Khamenei also said Iran maintains good relations with about 15 neighboring countries and asserted that only military bases have been attacked and that such actions would continue. He urged regional governments to take a clear stance and to close U.S. bases as soon as possible, according to the read message. He noted personal losses, saying he had lost his father and his wife, sharing Iranians’ grief.

The timing comes as tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated, with attacks on oil tankers and ongoing drone and missile exchanges. The market responded to the risk with a rise in oil prices; Brent crude traded above $100 a barrel on the day, a level not seen since 2022, reflecting concerns about global energy supply routes through the region.

Analysts have noted that Iran’s security structure is heavily centered on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and operates with a degree of distributed leadership, suggesting that military operations could continue even if the supreme leader is not publicly visible. Some observers have discussed the possibility of a “ghost” leadership scenario, though these assessments are speculative.

CNN cited unnamed sources saying Khamenei sustained injuries on the first day of the U.S.-Israel air campaign last month, including a broken leg and facial injuries. An Iranian diplomat in Cyprus acknowledged he was present during the strikes and injured, but official confirmation of his health status remains incomplete. The reporting has not been independently verified.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is Ali Khamenei’s son and a hard-line figure closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. He was described in the report as having succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader on the 8th, a transition that concentrates ultimate authority in Tehran.