A faceless message, a very real threat
Mojtaba Khamenei spoke this Thursday, but we did not see him. His words came on television, read by a presenter in front of his photo. A detail that matters: amid rumors about his condition, the leader’s absence fuels more questions than answers.
“We will avenge our martyrs and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to put pressure on our enemies”
That was the central promise. But there were also direct warnings: Iran will continue attacking US bases in the region and demands that they be “immediately shut down.” The tone was defiant, calling for national unity in the face of what he described as aggression from the US and Israel.
The strategy expands, the markets tremble
Actions speak louder. While the message was being transmitted, Iranian forces were already attacking ships in Basra (Iraq) and the United Arab Emirates. They join three ships bombed the day before.
But the key move is another: closing Hormuz. About 20% of the world’s oil passes through that strait. If it materializes, energy markets will feel the blow.
Khamenei even hinted at new fronts if the war continues. He assumed leadership after his father was killed in an initial bombing raid. Now, with Trump and Israel warning that he himself is a target, his first “appearance” was carefully controlled.
What is clear: the regional conflict is expanding. And the words of a leader who did not show his face can change the price of gasoline in half the world.
