A Thursday message attributed to Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was read out by a newscaster on Iranian state television while a photo of the supreme leader was shown. There have not been any signs of life from Khamenei since his appointment.
In the statement, Khamenei wrote that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed, and if necessary, other fronts will be opened.
"The will of the masses is to continue the effective and regrettable defense," Khamenei's statement read.
"Also, the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to be used. Studies have been conducted on opening other fronts where the enemy has little experience and will be extremely vulnerable in them, and their activation will be carried out if the war situation continues and based on the observance of interests."
He was quoted as thanking Yemen's Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon for their "defending the oppressed people of Gaza," and "coming to the aid of the Islamic Republic despite all obstacles," as well as the Iraqi resistance for their "courage."
Continuing strikes against US bases in Gulf states
In the statement, Khamenei reaffirmed that Iran will continue to attack the US bases located within the Gulf, adding that these countries had been "explicitly warned" that such attacks would occur.
"From now on, we will inevitably continue to do so, although we still believe in the need for friendship between ourselves and our neighbors. These countries must make their duty clear to the invaders of our beloved homeland and the murderers of our people. I recommend that they close those bases as soon as possible, because they must have realized by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie," the statement read.