TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that the "bright future" of the Gulf will be one without the U.S. presence and at the service of the progress, comfort, and welfare of the regional nations.
Khamenei made the remarks in a message marking the Persian Gulf National Day, calling the waterway an "unparalleled divine blessing" for Iran and the Muslim states of the region.
He said that Iran shares a common fate with its neighbors in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, adding that the foreigners, "who greedily commit malicious actions" in the region, will have no place in it, "except at the bottom of its waters."
Khamenei noted that the victory against the United States in the regional waters, which has been achieved on the back of the resistance front's measures and policies and the strategy of a "strong" Iran, will be the beginning of a new order in the region and the world.
He stressed that Iran, which has the longest coastline along the Gulf, has made the greatest sacrifices to ensure the independence of the body of water and counter foreigners and aggressors throughout history.
Noting that two months have passed since the start of the "biggest military campaign and aggression" by world bullies in the region, Khamenei said that a new chapter in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is "taking shape" following the U.S. "ignominious" defeat in its plan against Iran and the region.
He praised Iran's naval forces for their "fortitude, vigilance, and struggles" against the United States and Israel during the 40-day war, emphasizing that the U.S. presence and "nesting" in the Gulf states' territories is now widely regarded as "the most important cause" of insecurity in the region, with the United States and its bases incapable of ensuring their own security.
Khamenei expressed confidence that the Iranian people will guard their national assets, including the country's identity, spiritual, and nuclear and missile capabilities, as they do their sea, land, and air borders.
He underlined that through its management of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will ensure regional security and eliminate the "hostile enemy's abuses," bringing comfort, progress, and economic benefits to all regional nations.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8, although major differences remain. ■
