Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stated on Monday, September 28, that the United States would be forced to leave the Middle East after suffering “painful blows,” according to a written statement carried by Iranian state television.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, issued the remarks despite ongoing attempts to revive talks aimed at ending the military escalation.
“Today, having suffered painful blows at the hands of valiant fighters and the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, they (the enemies) do not venture beyond the Arabian Sea,” Mojtaba Khamenei said in the statement, without explicitly naming the United States.
“Whenever they have braved this risk, they have only brought harm upon themselves. It will not be long before the Arabian Sea, too, would rid itself of their presence,” he added.
The Arabian Sea, extending from the Arabian Peninsula toward India, serves as a critical maritime route leading into Iranian coastal waters and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and the United States have been engaged in a confrontation over control of the Strait of Hormuz since the escalation of hostilitiesin late February.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the strategic maritime choke point carried approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
Following the start of the conflict, Tehran imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to respond with naval countermeasures targeting Iranian ports.