On Monday, Tehran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a stark warning that the United States will be forced out of the Middle East after suffering 'painful blows' in the region.
Khamenei, who has avoided public appearances since the February escalation, delivered the comment in a written statement carried by state television, framing the U.S. as an aggressor that has repeatedly provoked Iranian forces.
The remark follows the U.S. and Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian targets in late February, which triggered Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a gateway that handles roughly 20% of global oil and gas.
Iran has already imposed a blockade on the strait, prompting Washington to enforce its own restrictions on Iranian ports, escalating the risk of a maritime standoff that could choke the world’s energy supply.
Khamenei warned that the U.S. would soon face the same fate as other foreign ships that have entered the Arabian Sea, suggesting a tightening of enforcement that could sideline American vessels.
The statement arrives ahead of a planned U.S. naval deployment to the region, raising questions about the next phase of the conflict and the potential for a broader maritime blockade.