Iran To Keep Strait Of Hormuz Closed, Supreme Leader Khamenei Says In First Public Comments

"In targeting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has tied up shipping on a waterway that accounts for around a fifth of all oil and gas transportation in the world. Two tankers were ablaze in a port in the Persian Gulf on March 12 after they were hit by what are suspected to have been Iranian explosive-laden vessels, an escalation in attacks that have choked much of the oil leaving the Middle East."

"Khamenei said Iran will continue to seek to strike targets where 'the enemy has little experience and will be severely vulnerable.' Iran has been launching air and water strikes at targets across the Middle East in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks that started on February 28, the day his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in one such bombardment."

"Oil prices surged more than 9 percent to above $100 a barrel after the reports of further attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, in what the International Energy Agency has called the biggest disruption to global energy supplies in history. Khamenei said Iran would 'extract reparations' from those states that attack it, and if that is not possible, 'We will destroy an equivalent amount of their assets.'"

Mojtaba Khamenei, newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran following his father's death, declared Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue targeting locations where enemies are vulnerable. Iran has launched retaliatory air and water strikes across the Middle East since February 28, when his father was killed in a bombardment. The campaign has severely disrupted global shipping, with the Strait of Hormuz accounting for approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and gas transportation. Recent attacks on tankers in the Persian Gulf caused oil prices to surge over 9 percent above $100 per barrel, marking the largest disruption to global energy supplies in history. Khamenei stated Iran will extract reparations from attacking states or destroy equivalent assets if reparations are unavailable.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty