Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his first public message since assuming office, calling for national unity and declaring that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to escalate.
In a statement, which was read on Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV on Thursday, Khamenei said the Iranian people had shown determination in defending the country and must continue to remain united amid the ongoing war.
“The will of the people is to continue effective defense, and their presence on the scene must be maintained. The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei began his message by offering prayers and paying tribute to his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint United States–Israeli strikes at the start of the conflict that erupted on February 28.
He expressed condolences to the Iranian people and the wider Muslim community, particularly to families affected by the ongoing war and those who lost relatives during the attacks.
Addressing the nation, Khamenei said he had learned about his appointment as Supreme Leader through state media following a vote by Iran’s Assembly of Experts.
“I, Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, learned the result of the Assembly of Experts’ vote through the Islamic Republic’s media, just like all of you,” he said in the message broadcast by Press TV.
Reflecting on the responsibilities of the position, the new leader said succeeding figures such as Imam Ruhollah Khomeini and his predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei carried enormous responsibility.
“Sitting in a position once occupied by two great leaders, Imam Khomeini and Martyr Khamenei, is a daunting task,” he said, adding that fulfilling such responsibility would require both divine guidance and public support.
Khamenei also praised Iran’s military forces for defending the country during the conflict, saying their actions had prevented Iran from being dominated or divided during the attacks.
In his remarks, he signalled that Iran would continue resisting what it describes as external aggression and emphasised the need for unity among Iranians at a time of war.
The statement marks the first official message from Mojtaba Khamenei since he was appointed Supreme Leader following the death of his father, who had ruled Iran for nearly four decades.
Earlier today, Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani issued a stern warning to the United States and its allies, saying Tehran would continue its response until those responsible for the conflict “regret their miscalculation.” In a post on X, Larijani criticised US President Donald Trump’s remarks about securing a quick victory, stating that while wars may be easy to start, they cannot be won through rhetoric alone.
Separately, Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remained a higher priority for Washington than concerns over rising oil prices triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. The Israeli military also claimed it had carried out a strike on Iran’s Taleghan complex, alleging the facility had been linked to past nuclear weapons research and explosive testing under the covert “AMAD” programme.
