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Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Orders Strait of Hormuz Closed

12 March, 2026.Iran.17 sources

Key Takeaways

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered forces to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed
Iran attacked ships, fuel tankers, and energy facilities, causing fires and at least one death
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel; IEA warned of historic global supply disruption

Khamenei's first message

Iran’s newly elevated supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a forceful first public message calling for continued attacks on Gulf Arab states and for keeping the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed as leverage against the United States and Israel.

“New Iranian leader vows revenge, keeps oil shipping route shut Iran's new supreme leader ordered his forces to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane shut on Thursday, as Tehran launched more devastating attacks on Gulf energy targets that sent global oil prices soaring”

Al-Monitor

The statement was broadcast on state television and read aloud by a news anchor, and Iranian outlets and state-aligned agencies framed it as a vow to avenge those killed in the conflict.

Al-Monitor

Shipping under attack

The closure and attacks have sharply disrupted shipping through Hormuz, with multiple vessels struck in recent days and commercial traffic reduced to a fraction of normal levels.

Maritime agencies and regional officials reported ships hit by projectiles and explosive-laden boats, and the Revolutionary Guard vowed to block oil shipments to the United States, Israel and their partners.

An-Nahar

Economic shock

Markets and governments reacted swiftly: the International Energy Agency coordinated a record 400-million-barrel release of emergency reserves, but analysts and market prices remained jittery and oil surged above $100 a barrel in many reports.

“Iran’s secretive top leader vows to keep up attacks in his first statement since being appointed Iran’s secretive top leader vows to keep up attacks in his first statement since being appointed DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s secretive new supreme leader on Thursday vowed to keep up attacks on Gulf Arab countries and use the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel”

Associated Press News

Commentators warned that stockpile releases can only partially offset prolonged Gulf disruptions.

Escalation and displacement

The order to keep Hormuz closed has intensified military escalation and regional displacement: U.S. and Israeli strikes have reportedly hit thousands of targets in Iran while Israel expanded strikes into Lebanon and issued wide evacuation orders.

Those moves have contributed to mass displacement in Iran and Lebanon and rising civilian casualties.

BBC

Leadership uncertainty

Khamenei’s personal status and the political signal of his remarks remain contested: state media and hardline outlets pushed his elevation and the rhetoric to cement continuity, but analysts and local reporting noted uncertainty about whether Mojtaba Khamenei personally recorded the remarks.

“What to know as the U”