Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that regional countries will no longer act as shields for United States military bases. In a message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since assuming office in March, stated: "What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn backwards, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for American bases."
US Influence Waning
Khamenei asserted that the United States, "in addition to no longer having any safe haven in the region for aggression and the establishment of military bases, is moving further and further away from its former position with each passing day." His remarks come amid ongoing exchanges between Iran and the United States aimed at reaching a deal to end the war that began on February 28 and has since spread across the region.
Ceasefire and Tensions
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8. Iran's foreign ministry has indicated that Tehran and Washington have reached understandings on many issues in their discussions regarding a potential agreement to end the conflict, but cautioned that a final deal is not yet imminent. On Tuesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they had downed a US drone and fired upon other aircraft attempting to enter Iranian airspace, though they did not specify when these incidents occurred.
In a statement, the Guards further warned "against any violation of the ceasefire by the aggressor US military and considers its right to reciprocal response legitimate and certain." On Monday, the US Central Command reported that its forces had attacked missile sites in southern Iran and targeted boats attempting to lay mines, despite the ceasefire in effect.
No Official Confirmation
Iran has not officially confirmed the US attack, but state media reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas without identifying their source. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, succeeded his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial US-Israel strikes on February 28, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region.
