Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has declared the start of a "new chapter" in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz following the conflict that began on February 28 involving the United States and Israel.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Iranian media outlets released a statement from Khamenei regarding the strategic shift in the region. The statement claims that two months after what was described as the failure of American plans in the region, a new phase of maritime and economic management is being initiated.
Khamenei emphasized that the new management of the Strait of Hormuz is designed to bring "peace and progress" along with significant "economic benefits" to all countries bordering the Gulf. The Supreme Leader asserted that the future of the Persian Gulf region would be shaped without American involvement, stating that the only place for a U.S. presence would be in the "deep waters." He further noted that Tehran intends to guarantee the security of the region and prevent any misuse of its waterways by external forces.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, as it is the primary transit route for oil from Middle Eastern producers to global markets. Approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through this narrow waterway daily. Historically, the region has been a focal point of geopolitical tension, and Tehran's latest declarations reflect its ongoing strategy to assert sovereign control over these strategic waters while challenging the maritime presence of Western powers in the Middle East.
