Iran’s new supreme leader issues first statement

In March 2026, Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, released his first public statement. The statement addressed the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel. Khamenei declared that Iran would maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He further threatened to initiate new fronts in the conflict if the US and Israel continued their military actions. The statement signals a potentially escalating role for Iran in the existing war. The reasons behind the threat were cited as a response to the continued war efforts of the US and Israel.