Iran to secure Gulf region, eliminate enemy's abuses, Mojtaba Khamenei warns US
In a rare message, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained hidden from public view, warned that 'aliens' creating mischief in the Persian Gulf would be sent to the 'depths of its waters'.
In perhaps the most fiery warning to the US, Iran's shadowy Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran would "secure the Gulf region" and eliminate what he called the "enemy's abuses" of the waterway. Mojtaba, who has remained hidden from public view amid reports that he is in a coma, also said that "aliens" creating mischief in the Persian Gulf would be sent to the "depths of its waters".
Mojtaba's message, which was read out on state TV, comes hours after US President Donald Trump declined Iran's proposal to lift its naval blockade of ships transiting via Iranian ports. Iran has made it a precondition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which it has blocked since March. The move has upended oil supplies, holding the global economy hostage.
'A NEW CHAPTER IN HORMUZ STRAIT'
"A new chapter for the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz has been taking shape," Khamenei said. Striking a tone of regional outreach, the Supreme Leader underlined that the "new management" of Hormuz would bring calm, progress and economic benefits to all Gulf countries.
In his message, Khamenei stressed that the US presence in the Persian Gulf was the most important factor of "insecurity" in the region.
"America's illusory bases lack even the ability to ensure their own security, let alone any hope that America could provide security for the region's dependents and Americanophiles," Khamenei said.
The timing of the message is crucial. Iran, which retaliated to US-Israeli strikes by targeting American assets in the Gulf, stands largely alienated in the Middle East. It also comes at a time when the US blockade has put pressure on its oil lifeline.
By reaching out to the Gulf states, Iran is trying to position itself as a future guarantor of stability amid an unpredictable Trump in the White House.
Crucially, Khamenei's message comes hours after Iran's navy commander warned of a new weapon that he said Tehran's enemies were "deeply afraid of". Against this backdrop, the Supreme Leader warned that Iran's enemies have no place "except in the depths of its waters".
"Those aliens who, from thousands of kilometres away, greedily sow mischief in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, have no place there except in the depths of its waters," Khamenei said.
Before concluding, Mojtaba again appealed to the Gulf states, underlining that the region's "bright future... will be a future without America".