Amidst allusions and scenarios about his health, Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei , gave his first public message after being elected head of the Islamic Republic as successor to his father, Ali Khamenei .
In the message read on state television by a presenter, he promised revenge for " all the Iranian blood that has been shed to date ."
Khamenei also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, while declaring that friendly relations with neighboring countries will be maintained, but attacks on American bases in the region will continue.
"I reiterate once again that the Islamic Republic of Iran, without seeking to establish sovereignty and colonialism in the region, is fully prepared for unity and warm and sincere mutual relations with all its neighbors," he said.
He added that countries in the region must bear responsibility for the presence of foreign military bases on their territory.
"The countries of the region must take responsibility for the attackers of our homeland and the murderers of our people. I advise them to close these bases as soon as possible, because America's claim of establishing security and peace has been nothing but a lie," Khamenei declared.
According to him, several military bases in neighboring countries were used in recent attacks against Iran. He emphasized that Iran only struck these bases, without directly targeting the countries where they are located.
Khamenei also spoke of revenge against those he called "martyrs of the nation."
"So far, only limited revenge has been achieved for the blood of the martyrs. Our priority is to avenge everyone. The crime committed by the enemy against the Shajarah Tayyiba girls' school in Minab and other similar cases occupy a special place in this effort," he said.
He added that revenge is not only related to the assassination of the former supreme leader.
"Every member of the Iranian nation who is martyred by the enemy is a special case in our revenge file," Khamenei stressed.
Speaking about his election as head of state by Iran's Assembly of Experts, he said that he learned about the result of the vote at the same time as the public, through Iranian state television.
"It is difficult for me to stand in the place of two great leaders, Ruhollah Khomeini and the martyr Khamenei," he said, adding that he had visited his father's body after his death.
In his message, he also thanked the Iranian people for their support and resilience.
"The wisdom and courage of the great Iranian nation made friends admire and enemies bewilder. You were the ones who led the country and guaranteed its authority," he said.
Khamenei also sent messages of support to groups considered part of the "resistance front," mentioning Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi Movement in Yemen.
"Without a doubt, the solidarity of the components of the resistance front will shorten the path to liberation from the Zionist regime," he declared.
At the end of his message, Iran's new supreme leader emphasized that the war will continue until the country's objectives are achieved.
"We will fight until we achieve our goals," he said, adding that the Iranian government will also seek compensation for damages caused by enemies.
"We will demand compensation from the enemy and, if he refuses, we will take as much of his property as we deem necessary. If that is not possible, we will destroy an equal amount of his property," Khamenei concluded.