Mojtaba Khamenei’s first message as Iran’s new supreme leader marks a significant moment in the evolving U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Rather than presenting a conciliatory tone or a transition toward diplomacy, the letter outlines a doctrine of continued resistance, escalation, and national mobilization. Delivered through Iranian state television rather than through a public appearance, the statement comes amid ongoing speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and physical condition following the attacks that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and several members of his family. The decision to deliver the message in written form, read by a television presenter, underscores both the sensitivity of the moment and the leadership’s effort to assert authority during a period of intense military pressure.
In his message, Mojtaba Khamenei framed the current conflict as an existential confrontation imposed on Iran by the United States and Israel. He emphasized that national unity, public participation, and social resilience are central to Iran’s ability to withstand the war. Addressing the Iranian public directly, he praised the population’s behavior during the days when the country was temporarily without a supreme leader, describing the people’s “insight, courage, and presence” as the factor that preserved national stability. The letter repeatedly stresses the importance of maintaining effective public presence in political, social, cultural, and even security arenas, portraying the population itself as a key pillar of Iran’s wartime defense.
However, the most consequential sections of the message focus on Iran’s military strategy moving forward. Mojtaba Khamenei explicitly calls for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a critical tool for inflicting pressure on Iran’s adversaries. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies normally pass. By endorsing the ongoing closure of the strait, the new leader signals that maritime disruption and pressure on global energy markets will remain central to Iran’s war strategy.
The letter also confirms that attacks on American military bases in neighboring countries will continue, although Mojtaba Khamenei emphasized that these operations are intended to target foreign military installations rather than the host countries themselves. According to the statement, Iranian forces have already struck several such bases and will continue doing so as long as the war persists. At the same time, he revealed that Iran has studied the possibility of opening additional military fronts in areas where its adversaries have limited experience and significant vulnerabilities, suggesting that the geographical scope of the conflict could expand.
Another key aspect of the message is its explicit endorsement of Iran’s regional allies. Mojtaba Khamenei thanked members of what Tehran calls the “Axis of Resistance,” including forces in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and armed groups in Iraq, describing them as loyal partners standing alongside Iran during the conflict. This acknowledgment signals that the Iranian leadership continues to view these networks as an integral part of its broader military and strategic architecture, capable of extending pressure across multiple fronts in the Middle East.
Alongside these strategic messages, the letter places strong emphasis on revenge for those killed during the war, particularly civilians and children. Mojtaba Khamenei stated that Iran would not abandon what he described as the “file of revenge” for victims of the conflict, including those killed in the bombing of the girls’ school in Minab, an attack that caused the deaths of more than one hundred children. He declared that every Iranian killed by enemy attacks constitutes a separate case demanding retaliation, and that Iran will continue pursuing revenge until what he considers full justice is achieved.
At the same time, the message attempts to address the humanitarian consequences of the war. Mojtaba Khamenei expressed sympathy with families who lost loved ones, with those injured in the attacks, and with people whose homes or businesses were destroyed. He also called on government institutions to provide free medical treatment for the wounded and to establish mechanisms to compensate citizens for financial losses caused by the war, presenting these commitments as obligations that Iranian officials must implement and report back to the leadership.
The letter was issued while the end of the war is not in sight. Israel has launched repeated waves of airstrikes targeting infrastructure across Tehran and other major Iranian cities, including energy facilities, military installations, and sites alleged to be connected to Iran’s nuclear development program. Iranian authorities have simultaneously reported new waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and against U.S. military facilities across the Middle East, reflecting the increasingly regional character of the war.
Despite the scale of the military campaign against Iran, intelligence assessments circulating among Western officials indicate that the Iranian political system has not collapsed and continues to maintain internal control, even after the death of Ali Khamenei and the transition of leadership to Mojtaba. The first message from the new leader therefore serves not only as a wartime directive but also as a declaration of political continuity and regime consolidation under wartime conditions, regardless of the health of Mojtaba Khamenei.
Taken together, Mojtaba Khamenei’s first letter presents a clear strategic signal. It affirms that Iran intends to continue the war through regional pressure, maritime disruption, proxy coordination, and retaliatory strikes, while simultaneously attempting to mobilize the Iranian public around a narrative of national resistance, sacrifice, and revenge. Rather than signaling a pause or a search for compromise, the message suggests that the new leadership is preparing the country for a prolonged conflict in which Iran seeks to offset its conventional military disadvantages through asymmetric tactics, regional escalation, and strategic disruption far beyond its borders.