Attempts by foreign powers to dismantle the country have been successfully thwarted, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei declared in his first televised address to the nation.
Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Iranian media, reports that Khamenei touched upon several critical geopolitical issues during his speech. The leader emphasized that while Tehran believes in maintaining friendly relations with neighboring countries, the presence of United States military bases within those nations remains unacceptable. He warned that unless these bases are closed, military strikes against them will continue.
"The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed," the new Iranian leader stated, asserting that the strategic waterway should be utilized as an absolute instrument of pressure. Furthermore, he demanded financial compensation for damages incurred by Iran and threatened to open new fronts of conflict should current regional tensions persist.
The transition of power in Iran comes at a period of heightened regional instability and economic pressure. The Supreme Leader holds the ultimate authority over all state matters in Iran, including foreign policy and the armed forces. The Strait of Hormuz, mentioned in the address, is one of the world's most vital oil transit chokepoints, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes daily, making any threat to its navigation a matter of significant global economic concern.
