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Iran's New Supreme Leader Vows Revenge, Keeps Strait of Hormuz Closed

Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed revenge for those killed, including his father, in recent airstrikes. In his first message, he declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. The hardline leader, who has never held formal office but wields significant influence, warned Iran could open other fronts if necessary. His selection follows the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli airstrikes last month.

Key Points: Iran's New Leader Vows Revenge, Strait of Hormuz Closed

  • Vows revenge for killings
  • Strait of Hormuz to stay closed
  • Warns of opening other fronts
  • Hardliner against West
  • Selected after father's death
2 min read

Iran's new Supreme Leader vows revenge, says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for his father's killing and says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.

"will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs - Mojtaba Khamenei"

Tehran, March 12

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday in his first message to the country, called for continued resistance and said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.

In a written message, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for those killed in the conflict, insisting that Tehran "will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs".

The message, local media reported, was read by a female presenter on Iranian state television. It also said "the tool of closing the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved" and warned that Iran could open "other fronts, if necessary".

The message added that Iran seeks friendly relations with neighbouring countries and would target only bases from which attacks are launched against it.

"The message attributed to Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's third supreme leader, was released without any indication of his whereabouts, health condition or physical status," Iran International reported.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new Supreme Leader, after the killing of his father.

Born in 1969, Mojtaba is the second son of Ali Khamenei and has long been a hardliner against the West.

Though he has never held formal office, Mojtaba wields influence through close ties to senior clerics and the IRGC, hence is widely seen as his father's gatekeeper and successor - effectively a "mini-supreme leader" - and has been sanctioned by the United States since 2019 for representing his father in an official capacity, Xinhua news agency reported.

Experts say he could adopt an even tougher posture toward the United States and Israel than his father did.

The United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, killing Ali Khamenei, along with some of the leader's family members, Iran's senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targetting Israel and US assets across the Middle East.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
A son taking over after his father's killing... this cycle of violence and revenge is so tragic. So many innocent civilians on all sides suffer because of these conflicts. When will it end?
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Aman W
The US and Israel started this by attacking first. You can't expect a country not to respond when its leader is killed. But closing the Strait of Hormuz hurts the whole world, including us. A very dangerous move.
S
Sarah B
India has always maintained a balanced foreign policy. We have good relations with Iran, the US, and Israel. I hope our diplomats can help de-escalate this situation. The world doesn't need another major war.
V
Vikram M
Petrol prices are already high. If the strait stays closed, be ready for ₹120/litre. The common man is always the one who pays the price for these geopolitical games.
K
Karthik V
With respect, I think the article could provide more context on India's specific interests in the region, like the Chabahar port project. The focus is very much on the Western perspective. Our national interests are different.
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Nisha Z
A hardliner taking charge means more instability. This is bad news for the entire Middle East and for Indians working in the Gulf. Praying for peace and stability.

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