Strait of Hormuz must remain closed, says Iran’s new leader

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has made his first public comments since taking office, vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and demanding reparations from the US for material losses during the war. In a statement, Khamenei pledged to avenge the 'blood of the martyrs' and said the 'effective and regret-inducing defence' by the Iranian armed forces would continue. He also called on neighboring Arab countries to shut down US bases 'as soon as possible' and demanded reparations for the material losses during the war. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabia Sea, through which roughly 20% to 34% of the world's oil passes. The number of ships passing through the Strait has come down to single digits in recent days as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has targeted cargo vessels in the Gulf waters. There were also reports that the Strait is being mined by the Guards. Khamenei's statement comes as Iran sets three conditions for ending the war, including recognizing Iran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The war between Iran and the US began on February 28, and Iran has maintained that it would not talk to the US and accept a ceasefire.