Iran’s new Supreme Leader calls for Strait of Hormuz closure in first statement

Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran, issued his first official statement on Thursday, March 12, 2026, calling for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a message read by a news anchor on Iranian state television, Khamenei described the strategic waterway as a “lever” and a “tool of pressure” against the United States and Israel.

Khamenei insisted that the channel should remain closed in order to exploit what he described as the vulnerability of Iran’s adversaries. The move has already contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, which have surged toward $200 per barrel amid fears of disruptions to one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

He also issued a warning to regional countries hosting American military forces, urging them to immediately shut down all US military bases on their territory or face continued attacks from Iran. In the statement, Khamenei vowed to avenge the deaths of Iranians killed during the conflict, specifically referring to members of his family, including his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes earlier in the war.

The Iranian leader also demanded compensation from what he described as Iran’s enemies for damages caused during the conflict, warning that if such compensation is not provided, Iran would seize or destroy an equivalent amount of their assets.

Khamenei was named Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, following the death of his father in a US-Israeli strike on February 28. Despite assuming the position, he has not yet appeared in public since his appointment. Unconfirmed reports and intelligence assessments suggest he may have been injured in the same strikes that killed members of his family.