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Iran Vows to Keep Hormuz Closed as War Escalates
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue the war with the United States and Israel as regional fighting intensifies and global oil markets react.
Women supporters of new supreme leader in Mashhad, Iran by Irani official media, Iranintl.com.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to continue fighting and maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel, marking his first public remarks since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei. The announcement comes amid escalating conflict that has killed more than 2,000 people and destabilized energy and financial markets globally.
Khamenei’s message, read aloud on Iranian state television, urged neighboring countries to shut U.S. military bases on their soil and warned that Iran would continue targeting those facilities. He emphasized that the strategic blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil flows, would persist. Iranian officials said Khamenei suffered minor injuries during early airstrikes in late February, though details remain unclear.
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Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first press conference since the war began, defending Israel’s military operations and issuing a veiled threat toward Iran’s leadership. He declined to give specifics on future actions, saying he would not “issue life insurance policies” for enemy leaders.
The conflict’s escalation has fueled volatility in energy markets. Oil prices surged nearly 9% to around $100 per barrel amid concerns over prolonged disruption in the strait. Two tankers were set ablaze in Basra, Iraq, by suspected Iranian explosive-laden boats, killing at least one crew member. Additional strikes in the Gulf targeted three ships, including a Thai bulk carrier claimed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
The war has spread to Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut and prompted evacuations in southern regions following Hezbollah rocket attacks. Drones have been reported in Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, and Oman, challenging claims that Iran’s long-range capabilities were largely neutralized.
A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, unrelated to hostile fire. Seven U.S. troops have died since the conflict began. Iran has declared oil will not flow through the strait until U.S. and Israeli attacks cease. Despite this, President Donald Trump downplayed price concerns, noting U.S. oil production capacity. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. Navy may escort vessels through the strait when possible.
Within Iran, residents report heightened security presence and restricted movement, though supermarkets remain open. Israeli strikes targeted Basij checkpoints in Tehran. Iran aims to impose a prolonged economic shock to pressure Washington, warning that oil prices could reach $200 per barrel. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called that scenario unlikely but did not dismiss it entirely. Global reserves releases, including 200 million barrels from the U.S., have partially mitigated the price spike.
This conflict underscores the strategic, economic, and human stakes of ongoing U.S., Israeli, and Iranian military operations, with both sides showing no signs of de-escalation.
Editor’s Note:
This report is based on official statements from Iranian and Israeli authorities, along with information reported by international media outlets during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Some battlefield developments, casualty figures, and damage assessments remain difficult to independently verify as the situation continues to evolve.
