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

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first public statement on March 12 via state media, but he did not appear in person; multiple outlets reported the remarks were read on television with a photo of Khamenei on screen, fueling uncertainty about his condition after strikes that killed his father and other officials.

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Al Arabiya English

France 24 noted he “has yet to appear publicly since his nomination last Sunday as supreme leader, and his defiant message was read by a newscaster on state television.”

Al Jazeera

Al Arabiya reported it was “in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV,” and NPR recorded that “another person was heard reading out the remarks, with a photo of Khamenei posted on the TV screen.”

Al Jazeera said the delivery “did little to dispel the rumours that the newly appointed supreme leader had been injured – or even killed,” while the Times of Israel likewise observed he “has yet to make a public appearance since his appointment and regime officials have indicated he was lightly injured.”

Central to Khamenei’s message was an order to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as a bargaining lever against the United States and Israel; he said “the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely/undoubtedly continue to be used,” and outlets reported Iranian strikes have effectively choked maritime traffic and pushed oil prices sharply higher.

Al Arabiya quoted him: “The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used.”

Foreign Policy Magazine

NPR recorded the same line: “The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must undoubtedly continue to be used.”

France 24 said he “ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed,” and Le Monde reported the wave of Gulf attacks “sent oil prices spiking briefly above $100 a barrel.”

The Reuters-style report noted the strait is “through which a fifth of global oil normally passes” and that Tehran’s strikes “have effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.”

Beyond the strait, Khamenei pledged to expand the scope of Iran’s campaign: he endorsed studies to “open additional fronts” where, he said, the enemy is vulnerable, urged Gulf states to close U.S. bases on their territory, and threatened reparations — saying Iran will “take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of their property.”

“Iran’s New Supreme Leader Vows to Continue Blocking the Strait of Hormuz Tehran escalates Gulf strikes and warns of future attacks on U”

Foreign Policy Magazine

India TV News reported he warned “the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed” and that “studies have also been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts in areas where the enemy has little experience and is highly vulnerable.”

People's Daily Online said “Studies have been conducted on the opening of other battlefronts,” and Al Arabiya recounted his call for neighbours to “shut down any US bases that they host” while repeating the compensation threat.

The Times of Israel also noted he said Iran would “continue to attack” such bases and seek vengeance for the dead.

The address reiterated a harsh human toll and specific attacks that Iranian officials cite to justify reprisals: sources report large numbers of civilian victims and at least one devastating strike on a girls’ school.

NPR said “The Iranian death toll now tops 1,300, according to Iran's ambassador to the United Nations,” while Al Arabiya noted Iran’s health ministry said “more than 1,200 people had been killed.”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

NewsBytes recorded Khamenei singling out “a missile strike on a girls' school in Minab that killed at least 168 people, including around 110 children,”

the Sentinel & Enterprise cited AP reporting that “outdated intelligence likely led to the United States carrying out a missile strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed over 165 people, many of them children.”

These casualty claims and the displacement reported by the U.N. have been central to Tehran’s narrative for continued retaliation.

Khamenei’s declaration reverberated regionally and globally: markets and oil-sensitive economies were hit, while U.S. and Israeli leaders signalled continued pressure and threatened action.

“Iran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed as Netanyahu issues threat DUBAI/BEIRUT >> Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as leverage against the United States and Israel, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said today in defiant first comments attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Le Monde reported the attacks and the leader’s order “sent oil prices spiking briefly above $100 a barrel,” and Reuters-style reporting said Tehran’s strikes “have effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.”

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The U.S. response options — including protecting shipping — were discussed, with a U.S. official saying the Navy and possibly an international coalition could escort vessels once militarily possible.

Al Jazeera highlighted domestic divisions and analysts who said the speech mostly doubled down on established hard-line positions,

the Sentinel & Enterprise and Honolulu Star-Advertiser noted sharp Israeli rhetoric, including a veiled threat from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.