Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has outlined the country’s position on the war during his first televised address since taking office on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.
Mojtaba Khamenei took over leadership following the de@th of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during missile strikes linked to the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel.
During the broadcast, he urged citizens to remain united and reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz would remain shut after Iran closed the vital shipping route due to the war.
He also suggested that military operations targeting American bases across the region would persist.
In addition, he hinted that fighters aligned with the Yemeni group known as the Houthis could join the conflict, stating that the Resistance in Yemen “will also do the job.”
Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iran’s armed forces for confronting the United States and Israel during the crisis.
“I would like to thank the brave fighters who are doing a great job at a time when our country is under pressure and under attack,” he said, and pledged that Iran would continue fighting.
According to reports, he was chosen as Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the country’s constitutional body of clerics after Ali Khamenei d!ed in the early phase of the conflict, which entered its 13th day on Thursday.
His mother, wife, and daughter are also believed to have d!ed in the same strikes.
So far, more than 1,300 people have reportedly d!ed in Iran since the war began.
The United States has confirmed the de@ths of eight of its soldiers, while at least 13 fatalities have been reported in Israel.
