Iran's supreme leader says US will no longer have 'safe haven' in Gulf
The nations of the Middle East "will no longer serve as a shield for American bases", said Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, this Tuesday (26).
In a speech written to mark the Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj) season, Khamenei spoke of a "new order" emerging in the Gulf region and around the world.
"Not only will the United States no longer have a safe haven for its antics and the establishment of military bases in the region, but also, every day, it moves further away from its former status," declared the supreme leader.
In the message, he also stated that Israel and its leaders were "approaching the final stages of their miserable existence."
More than 10 weeks after being announced as Iran's new supreme leader, following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, Iranians have yet to see or hear from Khamenei, although he has issued several written messages.
The Ayatollah's latest message comes amid negotiations between the United States and Iran to reach an agreement on the terms of a possible treaty aimed at ending the war, which began in late February.
Pilgrimage season
The annual Hajj pilgrimage began in Saudi Arabia and is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The religion requires that every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the trip to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their life.
This year's Hajj takes place amid the US and Israeli war against Iran, which has engulfed several Gulf nations and triggered a historic energy crisis.
New attacks
The United States military carried out what it called "self-defense attacks" on Monday night (26) against missile launch sites and Iranian vessels around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media outlets classified the attacks as a violation of the current ceasefire agreement. Forces from Tehran and Washington had previously exchanged fire during the ceasefire.
The recent US strikes came while Iran's chief negotiator and foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a possible deal with the US to end the three-month war, an official familiar with the visit said.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday (25), US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were going "well", but warned of further attacks if they failed. "There will only be one Big Deal for everyone or no deal at all," he wrote.
The American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Tuesday (26) that negotiations for an agreement with Iran are being paralyzed due to differences over the wording of the document.
"It's going to take a few days for things to calm down... even the disagreements over a word, a phrase," Rubio told reporters on his plane during a trip to India, echoing previous comments by U.S. officials. "We're going to have to sort this out."
*with information from Reuters
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran
Source: CNN