West Asia War: Iran’s Supreme Leader signals ‘new phase’ in Hormuz strategy, vows retaliation but says Iran not seeking war

As West Asia holds a fragile peace, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojataba Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran is preparing to move into a “new phase” in its management of the Strait of Hormuz, reported Reuters.

In a series of statements, the new Iranian leader said Tehran would seek retribution for attacks on the country, while making it clear that Iran would not back down from what it sees as its rights. At the same time, he maintained that Iran is not looking to escalate into a full-scale war, even as rhetoric around retaliation remains firm.

“Iran is resolute in taking revenge of its late supreme leader and its ‘martyrs.’ Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights,” he said, according to the news agency.