Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U.S. should “shut” its Middle East military bases, new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in his first speech since being elected. He is still yet to appear in public, and a broadcaster read out his words.
Four days after Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the 56-year-old son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei finally broke his silence. In a written statement that was read out on Iranian state television, Khamenei gave his backing to the continued blocking of the Strait of Hormuz and demanded the U.S. close its regional military bases.
Khamenei also paid tribute to his father who was killed in U.S.-Israeli air strikes on February 28, as well as Iranians who have died in fighting since. “We will not forgo revenge for the blood of your martyrs,” he said.
At least five ships have now been targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran persists in its attempt to stop marine traffic moving through the sea passage.
Boats with explosives, believed to be Iranian, attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters on Wednesday (11 March), killing one crew member. Meanwhile, Türkiye said on Thursday that 15 vessels from the country remained stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced on Wednesday that the Iranian men’s football team would be withdrawing from the tournament set to take place in the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico, later this year.
Speaking on state television, Donyamali said the U.S.’s assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meant Iran could “under no circumstances” participate in the FIFA event.
Global internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said that Iran’s internet shutdown had entered its 13th day. The London-based independent digital rights watchdog said the blackout was one of the longest ever recorded.
Citibank announced it was closing branches in the United Arab Emirates until 14 March as a precautionary measure on Thursday.
Bloomberg meanwhile has told staff based in the Gulf, including its regional headquarters in Dubai, that they can temporarily relocate and work elsewhere.
Iran has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on the Gulf states since the U.S. and Israel first struck Tehran 13 days ago.
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The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia remains willing to rebuild relations with European countries but warned that any wider conflict on the continent would leave no winners, as he commented on recent diplomatic contacts with Nordic leaders and growing security concerns in the Baltic region.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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