Iran's supreme leader says closure of Strait of Hormuz should be used as leverage [View all]

Source: PBS News/AP

Mar 12, 2026 10:00 AM EDT


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that the leverage of closing the Strait of Hormuz should be used and that Iran's attacks on Gulf Arab neighbors will continue.

His first statement since his appointment was read on state television by a news anchor. Khamenei did not appear on camera, and an Israeli assessment indicates he was wounded in the war's opening salvo.

Iran's unrelenting attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf pushed oil back above $100 a barrel on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to the war in sight.

Iran is trying to inflict enough global economic pain to pressure the United States and Israel to halt their bombardment, which started the war on Feb. 28. Iran's president said its attacks would continue until Iran gets security guarantees against another assault, indicating that even a ceasefire or U.S. declaration of victory might not halt the conflict.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/irans-supreme-leader-says-closure-of-strait-of-hormuz-should-be-used-as-leverage