Iran Supreme Leader Comments on US Presence in Gulf, Hormuz Blockade and Ceasefire

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement declaring that the only place for Americans in the Persian Gulf is "at the bottom of its waters," amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The remarks were read on state television and emphasized Iran's intent to protect its nuclear and missile capabilities, which US President Donald Trump has targeted through airstrikes and blockade measures.

Khamenei's statement also highlighted that Iran's control of the strait would enhance regional security under new management, though global views consider it an international waterway.

Iran's economy is reeling from the US Navy blockade, which halts Iranian oil tankers from exporting, squeezing revenue and forcing potential production shutdowns due to storage issues. The Strait of Hormuz closure affects a fifth of global crude oil transport, pushing Brent crude prices to $126 per barrel on Thursday.

This energy shock pressures the US and allies, with Trump weighing plans to coordinate higher costs on Iran's subversion of energy flows while keeping the blockade on Iranian ports. Iran vows "long and painful strikes" on US positions if attacks renew, with Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei defending the strait closure as legitimate under international law.

A senior IRGC official stated that new US attacks would target regional bases and warships, while air defenses in Tehran engaged small drones late Thursday. US officials indicated hostilities ceased with the ceasefire, potentially resetting the War Powers Resolution clock, as Friday marks the congressional approval deadline.

Gulf states condemned Iran's actions, with the UAE banning citizen travel to Iran and adviser Anwar Gargash calling Iranian arrangements untrustworthy after aggression. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa accused Iran of threatening stability and warned of punishing internal collaborators, stressing national loyalty.

US Navy escorted tankers through minefields then, yet attacks persisted, raising insurance and economic costs, though oil flows continued. Today's standoff, tied to nuclear issues and the US blockade without a clear end, could prove more prolonged, with no underlying conflict resolution in sight.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi noted that direct US-Iran communication could ease tensions, declining to detail proposals. The war started with airstrikes killing former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, wounding his son Mojtaba, who has not appeared publicly since assuming leadership.