Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday sharply criticized the United States, referring to it as the “Great Satan” and signaling no compromise on Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. In a written statement read on state television, Khamenei declared that Iran’s strategic programs remain non-negotiable and central to national sovereignty. He also asserted that Americans have no place in the Persian Gulf region.
Khamenei’s Strong Remarks Against US Presence
“We and our neighbors across the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman share a common destiny. Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometers away to act with greed and malice there have no place in it — except at the bottom of its waters,” Khamenei said, as quoted by the Associated Press. He further described Iran’s technological and military capabilities as national assets that would be protected by the population.
“Ninety million proud and honorable Iranians inside and outside the country regard all of Iran’s identity-based, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities — from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities — as national assets, and will protect them just as they protect the country’s waters, land and airspace,” Khamenei added.
Heightened Tensions and Global Oil Market Volatility
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with Iran’s oil sector reportedly under strain due to restrictions affecting tanker movement. This disruption has coincided with volatility in global oil prices, with Brent crude previously touching $126 per barrel. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil and gas flows, remains central to the standoff. Iran’s strategic position over the waterway has added volatility to energy markets and increased pressure on the United States as it weighs its response.
With a fragile ceasefire still in place, the US and Iran remain locked in disputes over sanctions, nuclear negotiations, and maritime control. Tehran has also floated proposals to delay talks on its nuclear program, while Washington maintains its objective is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful but has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
Call for Regional Management of the Strait of Hormuz
Khamenei also linked Iran’s regional posture to broader geopolitical change, saying the future of the Persian Gulf should be shaped by regional powers rather than external actors. He suggested Iran would continue asserting its position on the Strait of Hormuz and called for what he described as a “new management” framework for the waterway. Gulf Arab states and much of the international community view the strait as an international passage critical to global trade.
Khamenei’s latest statements underscore Iran’s defiance in the face of US pressure and its determination to maintain influence over key strategic waterways. The ongoing standoff continues to pose risks to global energy markets and regional stability.
