Khamenei’s first public statement after his appointment as supreme leader on March 9, 2026:

“Studies have been conducted on opening other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and will be extremely vulnerable in them, and their activation will be carried out if the war situation continues and based on the observance of interests.”Haley Ott, “New Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says Strait of Hormuz must remain shut in first message: State TV,” CBS News, March 12, 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-first-statement-strait-of-hormuz/.