00:00I've taken the seats of two great leaders, uh, great.
00:19Explosive developments out of Tehran tonight.
00:23Iran's newly appointed supreme leader, Moshtaba Khamenei,
00:27has delivered his first address to the nation since taking power
00:31after the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
00:36The message was not delivered in person.
00:40Instead, it was broadcast on Iranian state television
00:43from an undisclosed location,
00:45underscoring the intense security situation
00:48amid the ongoing war with the United States and Israel.
00:52But the speech carried a chilling message.
00:55Revenge, escalation, and pressure on the United States across the region.
01:01His first statement was therefore closely watched
01:05across the Middle East and in Washington.
01:07And within minutes of the broadcast,
01:10three major warnings directed at the United States
01:13and its allies became clear.
01:15The first and strongest message was a vow of revenge.
01:19Mushtaba Khamenei declared that Iran will not forget
01:23or forgive the killings of what he called the country's martyrs.
01:27He specifically mentioned the victims of the strike on Meenab,
01:31where Iranian authorities say scores of civilians,
01:35including school children, were killed.
01:37The new supreme leader said Iran would seek compensation from its enemies.
01:42And if that compensation is not given,
01:45he warned Iran will seize enemy assets or destroy equivalent property.
01:50The second key message involved one of the world's most critical energy choke points,
01:56the Strait of Hormuz.
01:57Khamenei made it clear that the possibility of keeping the Strait closed remains on the table.
02:04He described the blockade threat as a strategic lever
02:07Iran could continue using against its enemies.
02:10The Strait carries nearly one-fifth of the world's oil supply,
02:15meaning any disruption could trigger global energy shocks.
02:18The third message was directed squarely at Washington's military presence across the Middle East.
02:26Mushtaba Khamenei said all U.S. bases in the region should be closed immediately.
02:31If they remain open, he warned, they will continue to be targeted by Iranian attacks.
02:37Iran has already struck multiple U.S. facilities in countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain,
02:43Qatar, and the UAE since the conflict began.
02:46But perhaps the most concerning part of the address was a final warning.
02:52Khamenei hinted that new fronts could be opened against the enemy in areas where they are highly vulnerable.
02:58Analysts say that could include cyber warfare, attacks on shipping,
03:03or escalation through regional proxy groups.
03:06In other words, the battlefield may expand far beyond Iran itself.
03:11For Washington and its allies, this speech marks the first clear signal of how Mushtaba Khamenei intends to lead Iran
03:20during wartime.
03:21Three core points now define Tehran's stance.
03:25Revenge for the killings.
03:26Pressure through the Strait of Hormuz.
03:29And continued attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.
03:32The question now is whether this speech signals deterrence or the start of an even wider war.
03:48Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update.
03:53Download the OneIndia app now.
03:55Copyright NDR 2018
Comments