Mojtaba Khamenei, now Iran’s Supreme Leader, issued his debut statement Thursday on official TV, radiating sharp rhetoric amid grief and resolve. The address vowed perpetual action against US military outposts while prioritizing amity with surrounding countries.
He showered praise on the military’s fortitude: ‘Gratitude to our courageous warriors who shine brightest when our nation faces invasion and strain.’ Their vigilance, he said, has kept Iran whole against divisive forces.
‘We will not stop our counterstrikes,’ Khamenei affirmed, limiting them to American assets. Neighborly relations take precedence, he added, fostering trust without compromising defense.
Regional backers loom large—Yemen solidly behind, Iraqi militants geared for Islamic Revolution support. National cohesion is paramount, with Hormuz Strait as a bargaining chip against oppressors.
Allies received a blunt ultimatum: Evacuate US bases forthwith, lest they become targets. The new leader’s low profile stems from wounds suffered in the assault that felled his father, as per diplomatic disclosures from Cyprus.
Khamenei’s words frame a doctrine of precision aggression, honoring martyrs’ blood while extending olive branches regionally.