New Iranian Leader Issues a Defiant First Statement
A mourner holds a poster depicting Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, right, the successor to his late father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, as supreme leader, during the funeral procession for Iranian military officials and civilians killed during the Iran war on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran’s newly installed supreme leader issued his first public message Thursday, signaling that Tehran intends to continue actions that have already unsettled global energy markets.
In remarks broadcast on state television and translated by Reuters, Mojtaba Khamenei endorsed keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. He described the move as a way to “pressure the enemy” and warned that American military installations across the region should be shut down immediately or risk being targeted.
Following the statement, crude oil prices climbed further, according to CNBC, as markets reacted to the possibility of prolonged disruption to one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
Khamenei said Iran would continue seeking revenge for those it considers martyrs, referring to civilians killed and a strike that hit a school. Addressing neighboring countries in the Middle East that host U.S. forces, he argued they should recognize that American promises of providing security and stability in the region were misleading.
The 56-year-old leader did not appear on camera during the broadcast. Instead, a presenter read his message on television, which has fueled speculation that he may have been injured during recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, according to the Associated Press.
About Post Author
