Iran's Supreme Leader Demands Compensation from Adversaries
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Tehran, March 16 (NationPress) Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has once again emphasized the nation’s call for reparations from its adversaries.
In a statement shared via his Telegram account, he asserted, "We will seek compensation from the enemy; should they decline, we will seize a portion of their assets as we deem appropriate, and if that proves unfeasible, we will destroy an equivalent amount of their property," as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Earlier on Thursday, in his inaugural address to the nation, the new Supreme Leader urged for unyielding resistance, declaring the Strait of Hormuz will continue to be obstructed.
In a written proclamation, Mojtaba Khamenei promised retribution for those lost in the ongoing conflicts, maintaining that Tehran will not shy away from avenging the blood of its martyrs.
This message, as per local media, was conveyed by a female anchor on Iranian state television. It reiterated that the mechanism for closing the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained and cautioned that Iran might open "other fronts, if needed".
The statement also highlighted Iran's desire for amicable relations with neighboring nations while indicating that they would only target bases from which assaults against them originate.
The message attributed to Khamenei, who is the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, was disseminated without any details regarding his location, health condition, or physical status, as reported by Iran International.
Simultaneously, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked on Friday that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has suffered injuries and is currently in hiding due to the pressures arising from intense American military operations.
During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth noted that Iran’s leadership faces escalating challenges as the military campaign persists.
On February 28, Israel and the U.S. initiated coordinated strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, resulting in the death of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with high-ranking military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missile and drone offensives targeting U.S. and Israeli installations across the Middle East.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, was officially appointed as Iran's new supreme leader on March 8, as announced by the Assembly of Experts.