Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei lashes out again: “The only place Americans belong is at the bottom of the sea” | News

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei (56), has made himself heard again in a written message. He uses strong language against the United States.

The message was distributed by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and read out on state TV.

“Today, two months after the major military deployment and aggression of the world’s bullies in our region and after the shameful foiling of US plans, a new chapter begins for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” Khamenei said.

According to Khamenei, Iran wants to restore calm to the Gulf region and put an end to “the enemy’s abuse of the waterway.”

Currently, both the United States and Iran are blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The US wants to prevent Iran from selling oil. Iran itself allows tankers to pass sporadically, but they have to pay $2 million to pass. The latter is even called “piracy” by the Gulf states. Until now, the strait was considered an international waterway, which is toll-free and open to everyone.

“With God’s help and power, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without America, a future at the service of the progress, tranquility and prosperity of its people,” the supreme leader said in his message.

“We and our neighbors across the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman share a common destiny. Strangers who come from thousands of miles away with greed and malice have no place in it. The only place they belong is at the bottom of the sea.”

Khamenei also made it clear that Iran will protect its “nuclear and missile capabilities.” According to the US, this cannot be the case. Trump says preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is one of the main reasons for the war. A possible peace treaty, which should follow the current ceasefire, therefore seems further away than ever.

It is not the first time that Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a written statement. He has not appeared in public since his appointment on March 8. The wildest rumors are circulating about his health, whereabouts and his real role in Iran.

He was reportedly injured on February 28 in the attack that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (86).