Khamenei urges Gulf rulers to confront their ‘actual enemy’ as Iran retains the Strait of Hormuz restricted amid stalled diplomacy.
Printed On 30 Aug 2026
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has urged Gulf leaders to determine their “actual enemy” and confront it, as Tehran maintains its laborious line over the Strait of Hormuz, whereas regional mediators push for renewed diplomacy.
“My emphatic and repeated suggestion to the rulers of Islamic international locations, particularly the international locations of West Asia and the Gulf, is to determine your actual enemy, perceive his plan and confront it,” Khamenei stated in a message printed on Sunday to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
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Khamenei has not appeared publicly because the US-Israeli assaults on February 28 that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The message comes because the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway by which about 20 p.c of worldwide oil and liquefied pure fuel shipments handed earlier than the conflict, stays unresolved.
Deputy Overseas Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated on Saturday that Iran had reached an understanding with Oman on a brief maritime route, however that its implementation would rely upon the US fulfilling its commitments beneath the memorandum of understanding the international locations signed in mid-June, which has since lapsed.
“The Strait of Hormuz is closed,” Gharibabadi stated, including that any vessel in search of to cross must coordinate with Iran.
“Implementing this understanding requires the opposite facet, significantly the US, to fulfil its commitments. Each time these commitments are applied, Iran can even take its measures,” he stated.
Iran and Oman have been discussing a brief joint delivery hall and mine clearance, whereas Qatar and Pakistan have intensified mediation efforts. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Overseas Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Tehran on Thursday, the place talks included de-escalation and restoring delivery by Hormuz.
Recorded transits by the strait stay low. The Reuters information company, citing Kpler knowledge, stated seven commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 17 a day earlier and under the 10-day common of 15.
The Worldwide Maritime Group stated on Friday that as much as 400 ships carrying about 6,000 seafarers have been unable to depart the Gulf safely because the US-Israel conflict on Iran started.
“Renewed political will and cooperation is required,” IMO Secretary-Normal Arsenio Dominguez stated, calling for sensible measures to revive freedom of navigation by the strait.
The diplomatic push is unfolding alongside mounting financial stress on Tehran. Iran’s annual inflation reached 66 p.c final month, whereas President Masoud Pezeshkian stated imports and exports had fallen practically 35 p.c due to US sanctions and the naval blockade.
Washington has additionally widened its sanctions marketing campaign, concentrating on Iran-linked people and entities and shifting to limit the branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr financial institution within the United Arab Emirates from greenback transactions over alleged dealings with Tehran.
Regardless of the stress, Tehran has proven no signal of yielding on Hormuz. Pezeshkian has as a substitute known as for reviving the June interim settlement with Washington.
“We are able to resolve our issues and acquire our privileges with the memorandum of understanding,” he stated.
