Amid rumors and speculation about his health—some reports even claimed he was in a coma following injuries from a U.S.-Israeli raid—the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, delivered his first message after being chosen to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei.

In a harshly worded statement, he promised revenge for “all the Iranian blood that has been shed so far.” Khamenei also said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed. At the same time, he noted that friendly relations with neighboring countries would continue, but attacks on U.S. bases would persist.

Guerre au Moyen-Orient: "Nous devons continuer la résistance et faire en sorte que notre ennemi renonce", déclare l'ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei pic.twitter.com/JVYCdrBh4K

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“I repeat once again that the Islamic Republic of Iran, without seeking to establish dominance or colonialism in the region, is fully prepared for unity and warm, sincere mutual relations with all its neighbors,” he said.

He added: “Countries in the region must take responsibility for the attackers of our beloved homeland and the murderers of our people. I recommend that they close these bases as soon as possible, because they must now realize that America’s claim of establishing security and peace was nothing more than a lie. The enemy has gradually established bases in some neighboring countries over the years. In the recent attack, some military bases were used and, as we had clearly warned, we simply attacked those bases without attacking those countries.”

“Limited revenge has so far been achieved for the blood of the martyrs; it is our priority to avenge them all,” he said. “The crime deliberately committed by the enemy in the case of the Shajarah Tayyiba Minab girls’ school and in several similar incidents holds a special place in this effort. I assure everyone that we will not overlook the revenge for the blood of your martyrs. The revenge we have in mind is not limited to the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution; every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is a separate case in our file of revenge.”

“The servant of you all, Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, learned of the result of the vote of the Assembly of Experts at the same time as you, through the television of the Islamic Republic,” he wrote about his election. “It is difficult for me to assume the position of the two great leaders, the great Ruhollah Khomeini and the martyr Khamenei.”

He added that he had the privilege of seeing his father’s body after his death. “What I saw was a mountain of strength, and I heard that his healthy hand was clenched in a fist.”

Addressing the Iranian people, he said that “the insight and intelligence of the great Iranian nation, its stability, courage, and presence made friends admire and enemies confused. You, the people, led the country and guaranteed its power.”

He also sent messages to the Houthis and Hezbollah, saying: “Without a doubt, the solidarity of the components of the resistance front will shorten the road to liberation from the Zionist regime. Brave and faithful Yemen has not stopped defending the oppressed people of Gaza, and devoted Hezbollah has rushed to help the Islamic Republic despite all obstacles, while the Iraqi resistance has courageously followed the same path.”

Khamenei also signaled how the conflict could evolve, saying “we will fight until we achieve our goals,” adding that “the defeat of the enemy must remain at the center of everyone’s attention.”