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Mojtaba Khamenei flags potential change in Iran’s management of key shipping route

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday said that Iran would be entering what he described as a “new phase” in its approach to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which nearly a fifth of global oil trade passes, according to Iranian state media. 

In a statement read out on state television, he said Iran would “take management of the Strait of Hormuz into a new phase,” suggesting a more structured, and potentially more restrictive, approach in the days ahead.

He also warned that Iran would respond to recent attacks, hold those responsible accountable, and seek compensation for damages and casualties, including what he described as reparations for the wounded and the families of those killed. He said Iran would not relinquish its rights, even as it sought to avoid a broader war.

Mojtaba Khamenei was also quoted using strong rhetoric about retaliation against Iran’s adversaries. However, there has been no independent confirmation of any immediate operational changes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, reports of limited maritime traffic disruptions in the region have continued amid heightened tensions, although the situation remains fluid and unverified in parts.