Tehran \u2014 Iran\u2019s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has\nreleased his inaugural statement asserting Tehran\u2019s policy direction\namid the turmoil engulfing the Middle East. In a message read via Press\nTV on Thursday (12 March 2026), Mojtaba called for national unity and\nreaffirmed that the \u201cglobal artery\u201d of the Strait of Hormuz would remain\nclosed to pressure Iran\u2019s enemies.<\/p>\n
In the statement, Mojtaba demanded that all US military bases in the\nregion be closed immediately. If not, he warned, these facilities would\ncontinue to be targets for attack. While emphasising Iran\u2019s desire for\nfriendly relations with neighbouring countries, he asserted that\nmilitary operations against US assets would not cease.<\/p>\n
Mojtaba also referenced the role of resistance factions in the\nregion. He stated that the armed groups in Yemen (Ansarullah\/Houthis)\nwould \u201ccomplete their mission,\u201d whilst groups in Iraq were described as\neager to \u201cassist the Islamic Revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish to thank the brave fighters who are performing extraordinary\nduties at a time when our nation is under pressure and attack,\u201d he said,\nwhilst promising that Iran would continue fighting to prevent\nterritorial division or foreign domination.<\/p>\n
Health speculation<\/p>\n
Middle East analysts viewed Mojtaba\u2019s move as an attempt to reinforce\nIran\u2019s position of non-submission to Washington\u2019s pressure. However,\nanalyst Zeidon Alkinani noted that the speech was not delivered directly\nby Mojtaba himself, but rather by a news presenter.<\/p>\n
This sparked speculation about the new leader\u2019s health condition.\nRumours emerged that Mojtaba may have been injured or was even a\ncasualty in the ongoing conflict. \u201cThis situation creates considerable\nuncertainty regarding the legitimacy and ability of the Supreme Leader\nto stand firm in facing major challenges,\u201d Alkinani told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n
Mojtaba\u2019s statement was also viewed as more aggressive than the\nposition of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A day earlier,\nPezeshkian had suggested that Iran would be willing to consider ending\nthe war if certain conditions were met.<\/p>\n
Mojtaba\u2019s focus on armed resistance was seen as a strategy to divert\npublic discussion from fundamental domestic issues, such as economic\nreform and living difficulties that had previously triggered major\nprotests in December and January.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mojtaba-khameneis-first-message-to-us-close-all-military-bases-in-the-middle-east-immediately-1773377610", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }