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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on March 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Middle East

Americas

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi says Iran did not plan to negotiate with US, adds Tehran intends to keep fighting, after US President Trump said Washington had proposed a peace plan.



All you need to know about Day 26 of US-Israeli war on Iran

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ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that US military bases across the Middle East could be targeted if they are used to launch attacks against Iran, in his first public message since assuming power during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The written statement, broadcast on Iranian state television and read by a presenter while a still image of Khamenei appeared on screen, comes nearly two weeks after the war began following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. In the message, the new Iranian leader said Tehran had already targeted military installations used in attacks against the country and warned that further strikes could follow. &ldquo;In the recent attack some military bases were used,&rdquo; Khamenei said in the statement. &ldquo;As we had clearly warned, and without attacking those countries themselves, we targeted only those bases.&rdquo; &ldquo;From now on we will be forced to continue doing this,&rdquo; he added. Khamenei also urged governments across the region to reconsider hosting foreign forces. &ldquo;These countries must determine their position toward those who have attacked our homeland and killed our people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I recommend they close those bases as soon as possible.&rdquo; The message marks Khamenei&rsquo;s first official statement since becoming Iran&rsquo;s third supreme leader after the death of his father during the opening wave of strikes that triggered the widening regional war. Although the statement addressed the nation and regional governments, it was not delivered in person and Iranian authorities have not released video or audio of the new leader, leaving questions about his whereabouts and condition following the strikes that killed the previous leadership. In the written message, Khamenei praised Iran&rsquo;s armed forces and called for continued resistance against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel. &ldquo;The demand of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,&rdquo; he said. He also signaled that Iran would continue to use strategic pressure points in the conflict, including the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. &ldquo;Certainly the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,&rdquo; he wrote. Khamenei added that Iranian officials were studying the possibility of expanding the conflict into additional fronts if the war continued. &ldquo;Studies have been conducted regarding the opening of other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and is highly vulnerable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Activating them will take place if the state of war continues and if it serves our interests.&rdquo; The statement also vowed continued retaliation for Iranian casualties during the war. &ldquo;We will not ignore revenge for the blood of your martyrs,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;Every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy becomes an independent case for revenge.&rdquo; The conflict has rapidly widened across the region since the initial strikes on Iran, with missile attacks, drone operations and clashes involving allied groups spreading across multiple fronts and raising fears of a broader Middle East war.

 Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei

In his first message since taking power, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows continued military resistance, threatens retaliation for “martyrs,” and says Tehran may open additional fronts while keeping the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

Iran leader warns US bases in region could face attacks

Lebanon said an Israeli strike in the country's south killed eight people, while official media said the raid targeted a building housing displaced families

All you need to know about Day 12 of US-Israeli war on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on assuming the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader of Iran. The prime minister also expressed condolences over the martyrdom of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, who was assassinated in coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on March 1.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2031356250420605075&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=63a883850c3d45083e0cfbfde25c53d82326a42a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In a message, Sharif conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Mojtaba Khamenei and extended deepest condolences and prayers on behalf of the people of Pakistan over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other members of the family. He expressed confidence that the new supreme leader would guide Iran toward peace, stability and prosperity in the years ahead. The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s solidarity with the people of Iran during this difficult time and expressed hope for stronger cooperation between the two neighboring countries. In a separate message, the president extended his congratulations to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei following his assumption of the leadership role. Zardari noted that the region is currently facing serious tensions and conflict, and expressed hope that the situation will stabilise and conditions will improve for the people of the region. Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?&nbsp;Born on September 8, 1969, in the holy city of Mashhad in eastern Iran,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/mojtaba-khamenei-son-and-successor-to-irans-supreme-leader" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mojtaba Khamenei</a>&nbsp;is one of six children of the late supreme leader. He was named supreme leader by the top clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, in a statement published shortly after midnight on Monday in Iran. Other contenders for the top position had included Alireza Arafi, one of the three members of the interim council running the country, hardliner Mohsen Araki, and even Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic republic in 1979. But ultimately, the assembly settled on Mojtaba Khamenei, 56. The Islamic revolution had put an end to a multi-century royal dynasty headed by the shah.

Foreign Affairs

Express confidence that the new supreme leader would guide Iran toward peace, stability and prosperity in the years ahead.

Articles tagged with "Mojtaba Khamenei"

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Pakistan President, PM congratulate Iran’s new supreme leader