Amid rapidly escalating tensions across the Middle East, figures closely associated with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have issued stark warnings to the United States following recent US strikes inside Iran.
While an official statement directly from Khamenei was awaited, a significant message came from Hossein Shariatmadari, the managing editor of the conservative hard-line newspaper Kayhan and described as a close confidant of the Supreme Leader. Shariatmadari’s comments, published in Kayhan, outlined a specific, aggressive response.
“It is now our turn to act without delay,” Shariatmadari was quoted as saying. “As a first step, we must launch a missile strike on the US naval fleet in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French ships.”
This direct threat to target a key US military presence in the region and disrupt vital international shipping lanes underscores the severity of the proposed retaliation from a figure presented as being within Khamenei’s inner circle.
Context of Rising Hostilities
The warning emerges against a backdrop of intense military exchanges and heightened rhetoric in the wider region, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Iran has vowed “severe consequences” and a “more devastating” response to perceived aggression, including strikes on its territory. During this period, both Iran and Israel have reported trading air strikes, targeting various military sites and infrastructure.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has also explicitly warned the United States against involvement in the conflict, stating it would be “dangerous for everyone.” This reinforces the message from figures like Shariatmadari that US military actions or intervention carry significant risks.
Supreme Leader’s Broader Warning
Shariatmadari’s specific threats appear to align with Ayatollah Khamenei’s previously stated position regarding potential US intervention. Khamenei’s official Telegram account had reposted an earlier warning from the Supreme Leader during a televised address.
In that address, Khamenei cautioned the US against military intervention, predicting “irreparable damage” for the United States. He asserted that any US involvement would be “100% to its own detriment,” suffering damage “far greater than any harm Iran will encounter.”
The combination of the Supreme Leader’s broad warning against intervention and the specific, actionable threats voiced by a close confidant like Shariatmadari highlights the potential for significant escalation should tensions continue to rise. The proposed actions targeting the US naval presence and maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz represent a direct challenge to US interests and international stability in the critical Middle East waterways.
