Mojtaba Khamenei's First Speech: 4 Major Takeaways

March 13, 2026 | 10:00 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Days after being named Iran’s next supreme leader, and over a week following US and Israeli bombings that killed most of his family, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei delivered his first speech on Thursday.

Reading from a written statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei vowed to continue his late father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s hardline policies, seek revenge for his death, maintain control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and target US military bases in the region.

Key points from Khamenei’s statement, as reported by Al Jazeera:

• Vow of Revenge: Khamenei pledged to avenge the death of his father, the former Supreme Leader, who was killed in the US-Israel attack. "I assure everyone that we won’t forgo avenging the blood of your martyrs. The revenge we have in mind is not just because of the martyrdom of the illustrious leader of the Revolution. Every member of the nation martyred by the enemy is a separate case that demands we seek revenge," he said, as quoted by Dawn.

• Continuation of Hardline Policies: His speech signals the continuation of Iran’s hardline agenda, reinforcing the “resistance front” and targeting US interests.

• Strait of Hormuz and US Bases: He vowed to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed to global trade and use it as leverage in the conflict, indicating that the closure could continue and potentially escalate the war while Iran maintains pressure on its adversaries.

• Warning to Neighboring Countries: He added that all U.S. military bases in the region should be closed immediately or risk being targeted for attack. While Khamenei said Iran seeks friendship with its neighbours, he warned that strikes on U.S. bases would continue unless they were removed.

No Mention of Nuclear Program

What alarmed the White House most was what Khamenei did not say. He made no reference to Iran’s nuclear program, the strategic issue cited by US President Donald Trump as justification for the attack.

This omission raised concerns among Trump administration officials, who told the LA Times that they largely do not know the new supreme leader’s stance on whether Iran will pursue nuclear weapons.

Khamenei’s strong alliance with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has advocated nuclear armament in the past, has fueled worries that the new leader may deviate from his father’s previous opposition to developing nuclear weapons.

Read: Iran's President Sets 3 Conditions to End War With US, Israel

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