Mojtaba Khamenei says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed in first speech as Iran’s supreme leader

Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, says his country will continue to close the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran’s enemies.

Khamenei made the statement on Thursday in a recorded address, his first speech since succeeding his father as Iran’s leader on Sunday.

On March 2, a commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the strait had been “closed”, warning that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be set “ablaze”.

Major container shipping companies subsequently suspended sailings through the strait and the Suez Canal due to growing security concerns.

Reports indicate that at least five tankers have been damaged, two people killed, and about 150 ships stranded around the strategic waterway separating Iran and Oman.

Crude oil prices have also crossed $100 per barrel on Monday, marking the highest level since July 2022.

On Wednesday, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters, said oil prices could reach $200 per barrel. He added that Iran would not permit “a single litre of oil” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the US, Israel, and their allies.

Donald Trump, the US president, has warned that “death, fire, and fury will reign upon them (Iran)” if the country halted oil shipments through the passage.

Reaffirming Iran’s position, Khamenei said the country is open to maintaining 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 face attacks.

He also stated that Iran would keep fighting to avenge “the blood of our martyrs” while commending the military for its sacrifices.