Mojtaba Khamenei has said Iran will continue to block the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to pressure its adversaries.
Gatekeepers News reports that Khamenei made the remarks in a recorded address on Thursday — his first public speech since succeeding his father as Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday.
Tensions around the vital shipping route have escalated in recent weeks. On March 2, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the strait “closed,” warning that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be set “ablaze”.
Following the announcement, several major container shipping lines suspended sailings through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal over rising security risks.
At least five oil tankers have reportedly been damaged, two personnel killed and about 150 ships left stranded around the strategic passage, which lies between Iran and Oman.
The disruption has also rattled global energy markets, with crude oil prices crossing $100 per barrel on Monday — the highest level since July 2022.
On Wednesday, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters, warned that oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel.
He said Iran would not allow “a single litre of oil” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the United States, Israel and their allies.
In response, Donald Trump warned that “death, fire, and fury will reign upon them (Iran)” if Tehran blocks the flow of oil through the strategic waterway.
Reiterating Iran’s position, Khamenei said the country seeks good relations with neighbouring states but insisted that all US military bases in the region must be shut down immediately or they would continue to be targeted.
He added that Iran would persist in its fight to avenge “the blood of our martyrs” and praised the country’s armed forces for their sacrifices.
Khamenei also said the government is working on plans to provide financial support to people affected by the ongoing war.
