Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned neighboring countries to close U.S. military bases on its territory or risk further Iranian attacks, signaling a hardline approach in his first public remarks since assuming power.
The message, issued as a lengthy written statement rather than a video address, has fueled speculation about whether the leader fears for his life or has been injured during joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.
In the statement, Khamenei warned that countries hosting American bases must decide whose side they are on.
“These countries must clarify their position with the aggressors against our beloved homeland and the killers of our people,” Khamenei wrote. “I recommend they close those bases as soon as possible because they must have understood by now that the American claim of establishing security and peace was nothing but a lie.”
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Khamenei also falsely claimed that Iran has only targeted military bases in neighboring countries. In reality, Iranian missiles and drones have struck civilian airports in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as well as Jebel Ali Port and tourist areas around Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the Crowne Plaza hotel and a residential high-rise in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, the Port of Duqm in Oman, and a village in Azerbaijan.
He also indicated that the conflict could widen further, despite Iran already striking 12 countries, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as British and French military bases.
“Studies have been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts where the enemy has little experience and will be extremely vulnerable, and their activation will be considered if the war situation continues and in accordance with expediency,” he said.
The 56-year-old mid-level cleric said he found out he was selected to replace his assassinated father, Ali Khamenei, at the same time as the public.
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The elder Khamenei was selected as supreme leader in 1989 following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who overthrew Iran’s dynastic shah during the 1979 revolution.
The younger Khamenei’s role as successor has raised questions about whether the Islamic Republic could be drifting toward a dynastic system.
Mojtaba Khamenei (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after high school before studying and teaching at an Islamic seminary. He is widely regarded as being closely aligned with the IRGC, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization. He was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2019.
Despite his influence, he has never held elected office or served in a senior government position. He was also suspected of playing a role in the Iranian government’s crackdown on the 2009 Green Movement protests.
The younger Khamenei also revealed that in addition to his father, several members of his own family were killed in the joint U.S.-Israel offensive.
“I have entrusted my dear and loyal wife, in whom I had placed many hopes, my devoted sister who dedicated herself to serving our parents and ultimately received her reward, along with her young child, and the husband of my other sister, a learned and honorable person, to the caravan of martyrs,” he wrote.
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A central theme of the message was retaliation against the United States and its allies.
“I assure everyone that we will not forgo taking vengeance for the blood of your martyrs,” Khamenei wrote. “The vengeance we intend is not solely related to the martyrdom of the great Leader of the Revolution; rather, every member of the nation martyred by the enemy is a separate subject for the vengeance file.”
He said revenge had already begun but would continue until fully achieved.
“Of course, a limited amount of this vengeance has materialized so far, but until its full extent is achieved, this file will remain on top of other matters.”
Khamenei urged Iranians to rally behind the government during the war and maintain national unity.
“There must be no blow struck against the unity among all segments and strata of the nation,” he wrote. “Fourthly, do not refrain from helping and assisting one another.”
Khamenei praised Iran’s regional terrorist partners, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Iran-backed forces, and Iraqi militias. Iran has been coordinating missile attacks with Hezbollah in recent days in an effort to overwhelm Israel’s air defense systems.
“We consider the countries of the Resistance Front our best friends,” he wrote. “Undoubtedly, the cooperation of the components of this front with each other shortens the path to salvation from the Zionist sedition, just as we saw the brave and faithful Yemen not cease defending the oppressed people of Gaza, and the devoted Hezbollah, despite all obstacles, coming to the aid of the Islamic Republic.”
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