Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Warns US Forces Must Leave Middle East Amid Diplomatic Push Over Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a stern warning declaring that the United States must completely withdraw from the Middle East, marking his first public message since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in late February.
In a recent official statement, the Iranian supreme leader asserted that battered by valiant fighters, United States forces no longer possess the courage to venture beyond the Arabian Sea, adding that the body of water will soon be entirely liberated from American military presence. This development follows a tumultuous period that saw Mojtaba Khamenei assume the highest office in Iran last March, succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint military strike by the United States and Israel in February. Rumors have persisted regarding Mojtaba Khamenei sustaining serious injuries during the same attack, keeping him away from public view until this recent declaration.
Amid escalating regional tensions, diplomatic initiatives are underway spearheaded by Qatar to broker an end to the hostilities. Tehran has formally tabled a seven-point peace proposal on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, offering to reopen the vital Hormuz Strait in exchange for a cessation of conflict. Although United States President Donald Trump has initially rejected the proposal, diplomatic observers anticipate further bilateral discussions between the two sides later this week.
