Mojtaba Khamenei demands closure of US bases, warns they could become targets

TEHRAN, March 13 (YPA) – Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Ali Khamenei, called on Thursday for the immediate closure of all US military bases in the Middle East, warning that their continued operation could make them direct targets of potential attacks. The remarks came in his first official statement since assuming office.

In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei said the presence of American bases in the region represents a persistent security threat, urging their closure and stating that Iran would consider them legitimate military targets if they remain operational.

He added that any Iranian response—should it occur—would be limited to military facilities, stressing that Tehran would pursue this approach as part of a deterrence policy aimed at countering threats.

Khamenei also emphasized that Iran “will not retreat from avenging the blood of the martyrs,” saying Tehran seeks compensation from its adversaries for what it described as losses and damages inflicted on the country.

He also warned that Iran could target the assets and interests of its opponents if those demands are not met.

In a related context, the Iranian leader reiterated the importance of maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a strategic pressure tool that could be used against what he referred to as hostile forces opposing Iran’s regional policies.

The statements come amid heightened regional tensions, with escalating confrontations between Iran, the United States, and Israel across several fronts in the Middle East, signaling a potentially more hardline phase in Tehran’s policy in the period ahead.

AA