Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei, has signalled that Tehran intends to continue using the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz as a key strategic lever in the ongoing conflict.

In his first public message since assuming leadership, he said the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,” describing it as part of the Iranian people’s demand for “effective and deterring defence.”

He also indicated that Iran has studied opening additional fronts where its adversaries are “extremely vulnerable.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions across the Gulf, where shipping, energy infrastructure and foreign military bases have increasingly become part of the confrontation between Iran and US and Israeli forces. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints — has remained almost closed causing immense pressure on global oil markets and regional trade.

Khamenei said Iran remains open to “warm and constructive relations” with its neighbours but warned that military bases used by hostile forces in the region could continue to be targeted if they are involved in attacks on Iran.