Khamenei: ‘Enemy forces’ will soon be expelled from the Arabian Sea

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared that “enemy forces” in the Arabian Sea will “be expelled from this region in the near future.” “They come from very far away and expend their energy on this long route. They will surely be expelled from this region in the near future,” Khamenei said, referring to the U.S. military buildup in the region, as Al Jazeera reports.

He stressed his words were addressed to the “enemies of the Iranian nation.” Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister stated that Tehran is “fully prepared” to respond to any attack, including a possible Israeli strike, as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.

Khamenei’s comments come amid high tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has seized at least 12 cargo ships in the Strait in recent days, claiming they were carrying drugs and smuggled fuel, while the U.S. military has stationed an aircraft carrier and other naval assets in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if a new deal on the country’s nuclear program is not reached, a threat Tehran sees as pressure to submit to Washington’s unilateral demands.