The Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has made his first statement said Iran’s new supreme leader, stating the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the war is over.
“The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed,”Khamenei said in a statement Thursday morning. “American bases in the Middle East must be closed. Iran’s other military and regional capabilities will be activated if necessary.”
Khamenei’s statement was read on Iranian state media.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key passageway for much of the world’s oil.
Khamenei also told Gulf neighbors U.S. military bases need to be removed from their countries. Iran has been firing at countries across the Middle East in response to the United States’ Operation Epic Fury.
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst said Thursday on “America’s Newsroom” that the late ayatollah’s son was injured in one of the first strikes of Operation Epic Fury.
Yingst added an Iranian official downplayed reports that Mojtaba Khamenei was critically injured.
Oil prices bounced up and down overnight over fears Iran will attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In an agreement Wednesday nations agreed to release petroleum reserves.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN Thursday morning high oil prices were a “short-term energy disruption for just huge long-term gain.”
An hour later, President Donald Trump said, “when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World.”
Brent crude oil — the international benchmark — was trading at $99 around 9:45 a.m. EDT Thursday. It topped $100 Wednesday for a second time since Operation Epic Fury started 13 days ago.
Oil prices have been a concern for Republican lawmakers in light of the upcoming midterm elections.
