May 26, Kathmandu - According to BBC Persian Service, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a written statement, which was also broadcast on state television, amid rising tensions following recent US military strikes.

The statement comes in response to an American attack on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile bases and ships suspected of laying mines in the Persian Gulf. The US Central Command claimed the strikes were acts of self-defense aimed at protecting US forces from Iranian threats.

Since his election as Supreme Leader in March, Khamenei has avoided public appearances, issuing only written messages. In his latest statement, he asserted that Gulf countries will no longer serve as shields for US military bases, stating, “It is certain that the cycle of time will not turn back, and the countries and lands of this region will no longer act as shields for US bases.” He also criticized US policies, saying, “America is retreating from its previous position day by day.”

The statement also references Israel, describing the “unstable Jewish regime and Israel as approaching the end of their unfortunate existence.” Khamenei recalled a quote from his father from ten years ago, asserting that Israel “will no longer witness 25 years of its history.”