In his first public message since taking over as Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei struck a defiant tone on Thursday, making it apparent that Tehran will continue targeting US interests in the Gulf and could keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as “leverage” in the escalating conflict.The message was delivered by a news anchor on Iranian state television, with Khamenei absent from the broadcast. According to an assessment by Israel, he was wounded during the war’s opening strikes.

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Khamenei vowed that Iran would continue fighting to avenge those killed in the conflict, including victims of attacks on civilian sites such as schools. Tehran, he said, would “obtain compensation” from its enemy in an apparent reference to the United States. If Washington refuses, Iran will “take from its assets” or destroy them to the same extent, he warned.Key messages from Khamenei’s statement

• Khamenei said all US military bases in the region must be closed immediately, warning they would otherwise remain targets of Iranian attacks.
• He insisted Iran wants constructive ties with its Gulf neighbours, saying Tehran’s strikes are aimed only at US bases operating from their territory.
• The new supreme leader described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic pressure point, saying its closure should be used to influence Iran’s adversaries.
• He pledged that Iran would continue fighting to avenge the blood of its martyrs, from the former supreme leader killed earlier in the war to children who died in recent attacks.
• Khamenei praised Iran’s armed forces for preventing the country from being “dominated or divided,” and announced financial and other support for people affected by the war.
• He also called for unity among Iranians, urging citizens to set aside differences during the crisis.

The statement came as Iran’s attacks on tanker routes and energy facilities across the Persian Gulf rattled global markets, pushing oil prices back above $100 a barrel on Thursday.The conflict began on February 28 after strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, and there are few signs that the fighting is easing.Iran’s president has said military operations will continue until Tehran receives guarantees that it will not face another assault. As Khamenei was making his first statement, Trump said his country could benefit economically from rising oil prices but added that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains his overriding priority. He called Iran an “evil empire” and warned that its nuclear ambitions could threaten the stability of the Middle East and beyond.This comes as the conflict with Iran entered day 13. A day before, Trump had said that the war with Iran could end “soon”, claiming American forces have already inflicted massive damage on Tehran’s military capabilities. Speaking to Axios, Trump said there was “practically nothing left to target” in Iran. “Little this and that… Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said, adding that the conflict was progressing faster than expected.