Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei elected supreme leader; vows defense, threatens U.S. bases.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s long-serving Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was elected as the country’s next supreme leader on Sept. 9. On Sept. 12, local time, state television broadcast his first public remarks, with an anchor reading the message because Khamenei has not appeared in public since the vote.

In his statement, Khamenei asserted that “the means to block the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used” and that Iran would maintain an “effective defense.” He added that Tehran has studied the possibility of opening additional fronts if the war persists, implying that new fronts could be activated if deemed necessary.

The remarks included a warning aimed at the United States. He said he would “continue” to strike U.S. military facilities and that while he trusts neighboring countries, the U.S. bases would be the targets. He stated that all U.S. bases should be closed immediately, or they would face attacks.

Khamenei credited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful security and military force in Iran, and urged allied groups such as Yemen’s Houthi movement and Iraqi militias to carry out their roles. The comments framed Iran’s proxies as integral to the broader strategy he outlined.

Officials described the address as Khamenei’s first public appearance since his election on Sept. 9. Because he has not made a public appearance, the state television broadcast his remarks through a newsroom anchor, leaving room for continued speculation about his leadership style and policy direction in the early days of his tenure.

For U.S. readers, the statements underscore potential risks to regional stability and energy security in the Middle East. The explicit threats against U.S. bases and the reiteration of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint through which a substantial share of global oil and gas travels—could influence Middle East risk assessments, supply chains, and markets. The remarks also highlight how Iran intends to mobilize its security apparatus and proxy networks, factors that matter for U.S. policy, regional diplomacy, and security planning in a volatile era of Iran-West tensions.