Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, announced Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the current conflict ends, according to a statement read on Iranian state television. The strategic waterway, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, carrying a significant share of global energy supplies.
The statement, delivered by a television anchor rather than Khamenei himself, also urged Gulf nations to remove U.S. military installations from their territories. The remarks come as tensions escalate following a U.S. military campaign known as “Operation Epic Fury,” which has prompted retaliatory actions across the region. During an appearance on Fox News, chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst cited an Israeli intelligence source who said Khamenei was reportedly injured in an early strike during the operation, though the official downplayed reports that the injuries were serious.
At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said officials are considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act to ensure energy supplies continue reaching U.S. ports if shipping disruptions worsen. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said authorities are monitoring potential terror threats inside the United States, including a reported drone attack plot in California. Regional tensions intensified overnight as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched roughly 200 missiles and drones toward Israel. The Israel Defense Forces responded with strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in the suburbs of Beirut, further escalating the conflict.
