Iran’s Khamenei: US has no place in the Gulf or Sea of Oman, only 'at the bottom of its waters'

[0:00] We'll take you live to Iran's supreme leader, Mastabar Khamenei, who's speaking at the moment, [0:05] giving his latest statement on the conflict and the region. [0:09] They don't have any hope in our region. They don't have any fortune in our region. [0:16] If they have a place, it will be deep down in the water of the Gulf. [0:21] And this will be the equation that must be respected. [0:25] Today, the Iranian people have proved to be strong enough. [0:41] And today, 90 million Iranians inside Iran and outside Iran will use all their capabilities, [0:52] all their technological abilities, political power, and missiles powers, and nuclear powers, [1:02] in order to defend our country. [1:06] We will defend our country, the Islamic Republic of Iran. [1:11] Today, through controlling the Strait of Humus, we will defeat the enemies in this part of the world, in our region. [1:24] Iran has now set up a new equation that will be for the benefit of all countries. [1:36] These countries on the Gulf will get revenues. [1:41] And on the occasion of the Persian Gulf Day, we are saying this. [1:50] Well, that was the supreme leader of Iran, Rojtabar Khamenei. [1:59] It was a statement that was released on Iranian state media, [2:04] in which the supreme leader spoke of a future for the region without the United States presence, [2:11] and of a new reality for the Strait of Humus. [2:14] Obviously, the Iranian blockade of that waterway remains in place, [2:19] as well as the U.S. naval blockade. [2:22] We're joined by Russell Seder, our correspondent in Tehran. [2:28] Russell, the timing of this statement by the supreme leader, [2:33] it comes in the midst of a deadlock, a standoff between the U.S. and Iran. [2:38] Does it in any way move forward our understanding of that impasse? [2:43] Indeed. [2:46] So, now, this is the National Persian Gulf Day in Iran, [2:51] and that the supreme leader is releasing a statement on this occasion. [2:56] It's quite important. [2:58] And he's simply, in his message, perhaps one of the most important messages, [3:03] is that he's simply saying that it has been proven, [3:06] not only in the public opinion of the world and the nations of the region, [3:10] but also for the kings and the rulers of the countries that have the American military presence [3:16] in their country or American establishments in their country, [3:20] that this American presence is not a strength, is not a security guarantee for them, [3:26] but rather it's creating vulnerability and fragility in these countries, [3:32] saying that that's why the regional countries should not rely on the U.S. military presence, [3:38] but should focus to build their own security architecture [3:43] or rely on their own security resources. [3:48] And that is quite important. [3:50] Simply, Iran, since the beginning of the war on, [3:54] has been warning the regional countries, particularly the Gulf states, [3:59] that the reason that Iran is fighting projectiles at the GCC countries [4:03] is because of the U.S. military presence in the region [4:06] and asking the GCC countries to distance themselves from the U.S. [4:10] and also to somehow put an end to the U.S. military bases in the region. [4:18] That was the justification of the Iranian attacks. [4:21] On this occasion, now, the supreme leader of the country, [4:25] Mustafa Khamenei, once again focusing on that and justifying Iran's position. [4:29] And also then in his message, he is again talking about Iran's rights [4:36] or Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz [4:40] and saying that the management of the Strait of Hormuz is going to remain with Iran [4:47] and that is going to give Iran a great level of the leverages in the ongoing negotiations [4:55] and also that is going to benefit the nations and also ease the economic burdens on the Iranians [5:02] and on the country. [5:03] So these two points, asking the regional countries to distance themselves from the United States [5:08] and also asking the Iranian, particularly Iranian military establishment, [5:12] to keep control over the Strait of Hormuz, perhaps, [5:15] are the most important messages that are coming out of his statement on this occasion. [5:20] Russell, help us with this because we haven't actually seen any recent video of Mustafa Khamenei. [5:28] We haven't heard his voice since the initial attacks by the U.S. and Israel. [5:34] Whenever a statement by the supreme leader is given, [5:38] it appears to be either published or read out on state television. [5:43] But crucially, this latest statement comes at a time in which Donald Trump [5:47] is claiming that the U.S. administration doesn't even know who's in charge. [5:51] So what should we make of all of this? [5:52] Well, here there are two cases. [5:56] First, of course, the U.S. is saying that Mustafa Khamenei, [5:59] when his father, the late supreme leader of the country, Ali Khamenei, [6:03] was killed in the first day of the war, opening scene of the war, [6:09] that Mustafa Khamenei also was in the same building. [6:11] However, he has survived with heavy injuries. [6:15] And even the U.S. claims that he is now disfigured. [6:17] On the other hand, the Iranians have never confirmed that, [6:21] but they did not refuse that possibility as well. [6:24] But they are saying that, Iranians, that Mustafa Khamenei is alive and is in charge. [6:30] So then the United States is also insisting that now there is not a political unity, [6:35] there is not a united leadership in Iran, [6:39] while the Iranian politicians, the military establishment figures, [6:43] are consistently saying that Mustafa Khamenei is the supreme leader of the country [6:48] and is fully in charge. [6:50] On a daily basis, he's managing the state affairs. [6:54] So at this point, it's quite difficult to really understand or to prove [6:59] which side is telling the truth, which side is right. [7:03] However, what we can see so far, practically, what we have is that [7:07] since the beginning of the war, [7:09] and then since his elevation to the position of the supreme leadership here, [7:15] yes, he has never been seen publicly, [7:17] he has never released any video or the voice messages. [7:22] All the statements were written and read by the state TV presenters. [7:26] And, of course, Iranians are saying that one of the reasons, main reason for that [7:31] is the security. [7:33] Just remember that this decapitation policy of Israel and the United States [7:38] is quite a huge pressure for the Iranians here. [7:41] And they are more and more meticulously careful, [7:43] particularly now to make sure that the supreme leader of the country [7:47] is safe and secure. [7:49] So this is the Iranian justification. [7:51] But as of now, the U.S. is disfigured, heavily injured, [7:55] while the Iranians are saying, actually, he's alive [7:58] and he's practically in charge of running the state affairs on a daily basis. [8:04] Okay, understood. [8:06] Rasul Sardar, live in Tehran on the latest statement [8:09] from the supreme leader, Mastabar Khamenei, [8:13] in which he said that the Gulf neighbours share a common fate with Iran [8:19] and that foreigners who commit evil have no place but in the depths of the water. [8:24] Mastabar Khamenei there. [8:25] Mastabar Khamenei there.