Mojtaba Khamenei: Future of Gulf will be ‘without US presence'

In a written statement released by his office to mark Persian Gulf National Day, Mojtaba Khamenei said the presence of foreign powers, particularly the United States, has been a source of instability in the region, adding that a “new phase is emerging.”

He said the Gulf is a key part of regional identity and global economic connectivity, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

Khamenei said Iran would ensure security in the Gulf through what he described as new management of the Strait of Hormuz, including updated legal frameworks.

“These frameworks will bring stability, progress and economic benefits for all nations in the region,” he added.

The supreme leader said regional countries share a common destiny in the Gulf and that external actors “from thousands of kilometers away” have no place in its future.

The message also referred to what it described as a “new regional order” emerging from recent developments.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions following the war that began on Feb. 28 between Iran and the United States and Israel, which disrupted shipping and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire announced on April 8 has so far held, while diplomatic efforts continue to reach a broader agreement, including discussions over maritime access and security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran designated April 30 as Persian Gulf National Day in 2005, commemorating the expulsion of Portuguese forces from the Strait of Hormuz during the Safavid era.

Mojtaba Khamenei was selected supreme leader on March 9 following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. Since taking office, he has communicated only through written statements.