Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday, 30 April declared that a new "legal framework" and management system for the Strait of Hormuz will bring progress and comfort to all nations in the region, while asserting that the future of the Persian Gulf will be "free of America." His remarks, released as a message on the occasion of Iran's National Day of the Persian Gulf, signal Tehran's intent to reshape control over one of the world's most strategically critical waterways.

A 'New Chapter' in the Persian Gulf

Khamenei described the current moment as a turning point, saying a "new chapter" is being drawn in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. He spotlighted what he called the "sacrifices" made by Iran for the independence of the Persian Gulf and for "confronting foreigners and aggressors," terming the Islamic Revolution a "turning point" in those resistances. The message was reported by Iran's state-affiliated Mehr News Agency.

"This strategic asset has long provoked the greed of many evildoers over the centuries. The record of repeated invasions by European and American foreigners — the insecurities, damages, and multiple threats they have imposed on the region's countries — reflects only a fraction of the malicious schemes of global oppressors against the peoples of the Persian Gulf," his message read, according to Mehr.

What the New Legal Framework Entails

"The new legal framework and management system for the Strait of Hormuz will advance comfort and development for all the region's nations, and its economic benefits will bring joy to the nation," Khamenei was quoted as saying. He did not provide specific details of the proposed framework's structure or timeline, though the assertion carries significant geopolitical weight given that the Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply transits annually.

Khamenei also stated that Iran considers nuclear, missile, nano, and bio technologies as national assets to be defended as vigorously as its water, land, and air borders. "Today, 90 million Iranian people at home and abroad regard all national assets, including identity, spirituality, human talent, scientific innovation, industry, and fundamental technologies — from nano and bio to nuclear and missile technologies — as their collective heritage," he stated.

Direct Challenge to US Military Presence

Khamenei asserted that it has become evident to the world and regional states that US military presence in the Persian Gulf is the "chief cause" of insecurity in the region. "America's hollow bases can barely guarantee their own safety, let alone that of their dependents or pro-American allies in the area," he said.

He added that Iran will "secure the Persian Gulf region and eliminate the hostile enemy's abuses of this waterway." The remarks represent one of the sharpest articulations yet of Tehran's position on American military footprint in the Gulf, coming at a time when US-Iran nuclear negotiations are reportedly ongoing through back-channel diplomacy.

Regional Neighbours and Shared Destiny

Khamenei extended his message to neighbouring states, framing the Gulf's future as a collective regional project. "We, the peoples and neighbours of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, share a common destiny, and the foreigners who covetously meddle here from thousands of kilometres away have no rightful place, except at the depths of its waters," he said.

The future of the Persian Gulf, he emphasised, will be devoted to "progress, peace, and prosperity" for its nations — a framing that positions Iran as a stabilising force rather than a disruptive one, even as the substance of his remarks challenges the existing security architecture underpinned by the United States Navy's Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain. Whether regional states — many of which maintain close security ties with Washington — will align with Tehran's proposed framework remains to be seen.