March 13, 2026 : Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has pledged to intensify attacks on Gulf Arab nations and maintain pressure through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, using its effective closure as leverage against the United States and Israel. The remarks mark his first public statement since being selected to succeed his father, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike.

Khamenei, whom Israeli officials believe may have been wounded during the early phase of the conflict, has not appeared publicly since the war began. His message was delivered through a statement read by a news anchor on Iranian state television, in which he vowed to avenge those killed during the fighting.

The statement suggests Iran is prepared to prolong the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies, affected international air travel and heightened security concerns across Gulf Arab states.