STRAIT OF HORMUZ REMAINS CLOSED SAYS MOJTABA KHAMENEI

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Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, said his country will keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz to put pressure on Iran’s enemies.

Khamenei made this speech on Thursday in a recorded message — it was his first talk since becoming the leader of the country on Sunday.

On March 2, a leader in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strait was “closed” and warned that any ship trying to go through would be set “ablaze.”

Major shipping companies stopped sending container ships through the strait and the Suez Canal because of the growing danger.

At least five oil tankers have been damaged, two people have died, and about 150 ships are stuck near the strait, which is between Iran and Oman.

Crude oil prices went above $100 per barrel on Monday — the highest since July 2022.

On Wednesday, ⁠Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters, said oil price will reach $200 a barrel.

He said Iran would not allow “a single litre of oil” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of the US, Israel, and their allies.

Donald Trump, the US president, has cautioned that “death, fire, and fury will reign upon them (Iran)” if they stopped the flow of oil within the passage.

Khamenei reiterated Iran’s stance in his statement.

The supreme leader added that Iran seeks good relations with its neighboring countries but noted that all US military bases should be immediately closed in the region, or they will continue to be attacked.

He said Iran will continue fighting to avenge “the blood of our martyrs” and thanked the military for making sacrifices.

Khamenei also said plans are being made to financially support those harmed in the war.