Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader
Khamenei says navy ready to “make enemies taste defeat”
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Iran says its navy is at peak readiness
- Tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz
- Rising rhetoric in critical waterway
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned Saturday that the country’s naval forces are fully prepared to inflict new defeats on what he described as “enemies,” amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement published on his official Telegram channel, Khamenei said the navy stands ready “to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats,” in an apparent reference to United States forces.
The remarks are notable as they come from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since his election, and at a time of heightened confrontation over one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.
Tehran tightens control over Strait
Earlier Saturday, Tehran announced it had restored what it called “strict control” over the Strait of Hormuz, reversing a decision made a day earlier to reopen the global shipping route.
Iran’s central military operations room attributed the move to what it described as continued “American piracy” under the guise of a blockade. Officials said Iran had previously allowed a limited number of tankers to pass in good faith but reimposed tighter oversight following US actions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint, with global markets closely monitoring developments as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to rise.
