Iran's new supreme leader issues defiant first message
Mojtaba Khamenei vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed and attack US bases, demanding compensation for strikes that killed his father.
2:10 PM
Iran issued its first message in the name of newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday, delivered via state television rather than in a live address or video statement.
In the message, Khamenei said Iran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue attacking US bases in the region. He called for national unity and thanked Iran's military, saying it had prevented the country from being dominated or divided during the ongoing conflict.
Khamenei demanded compensation from the United States for its strikes, which killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his wife, son, and other top leaders. "If it refuses, we will take from its assets to the extent we deem appropriate, and if that is not possible, we will destroy its assets to the same extent," he said in the statement.
The 56-year-old leader, described as a hardliner close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said all US bases in the region should be immediately closed or face attack. He stated that armed groups in Yemen "will also do the job" and that those in Iraq "want to help" the Islamic revolution.
While expressing Iran's belief in friendship with its neighbours, Khamenei said attacks on US bases in the region would continue.
The decision to have the statement read aloud on state television rather than delivered live or recorded on video has drawn attention given questions about Khamenei's health following the lethal attack on his father's compound at the outset of the US-Israeli assault. The method of delivery is expected to be closely examined for indications of the leadership approach the previously backroom politician intends to provide.