Iran’s new supreme leader has tried to turn the page on the conflict – but his demands are unlikely to be heeded.
For the past five days there has been much speculation about his health Mojtaba Khamenei After being wounded in an airstrike on the first day of the war that killed his father, wife and son.
A long message from the Ayatollah was now read on state television. That message doesn’t really answer questions about his health because we don’t see or hear from him.
But it spells it out Iran It is well known that its ace card is delivering economic paralysis to the region rather than winning the military battle Israel And America.
People hold placards with the image of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran. Image: Wanna/Reuters
There is no doubt that Iran’s effective shutdown of the key oil shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz has worked. And it won’t stop. At the same time Iran – and through its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, Still managing to launch missiles towards Israel.
Now the supreme leader is urging his Gulf neighbors to pull out American troops from bases across the region. If they do, the attacks Stopovers are likely in many Gulf countries, from Bahrain to the United Arab Emirates.
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The Iranians had years to put together a strategy to win this war. But the planning and scope with which they attacked their neighbors surprised many.
From the Ayatollah’s statement today, it is clear that he knows the strategy is working – and that he plans to double down on non-military pressure, threatening to ‘attack’ his enemies on ‘other fronts’.
This could potentially mean areas such as banking.
Firefighters work at the site after Iranian strikes sparked a fire at fuel tanks near the airport in Muharraq. Image: Reuters
It is clear from the statement that his narrative has no notes of pragmatism – no undertone of peace.
It is to be expected when we finally hear the first words of the man anointed to the highest position of administration.
A regime that still stands and seems to be accepting of Israel is not going to fall any time soon.
