Iran’s Supreme Leader delivers a fresh warning to the United States, declaring that Americans belong “only at the depths of the Persian Gulf.” Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made any public appearances since succeeding his late father, asserted that Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz will usher in stability, progress, and economic advantages for all nations.

A top military advisor to Khamenei had previously stated that Tehran would not accept any extension of the U.S. naval blockade. Iran is determined to thwart “the enemy’s exploitation of the waterway,” emphasizing that while regional countries share a common destiny, “foreign malefactors” have no place in the region.

In a separate social media post, Khamenei heralded a new era for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. He underscored Iran’s commitment to safeguarding its nuclear and missile capabilities as crucial national assets, despite efforts by Donald Trump to disarm Iran.

Khamenei emphasized, “Ninety million proud and respected Iranians, both within and outside the country, view all of Iran’s intellectual, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial, and technological resources – from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities – as national treasures, vowing to defend them just as they protect the nation’s territory and airspace.”

The message, broadcast on Iranian state TV, followed ongoing speculations that Khamenei may have sustained serious injuries in the same U.S.-Israeli attack that claimed the lives of his father and other Iranian officials at the onset of the conflict on February 28.