Key facts
- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that Iranian forces have pushed "enemy" forces out of waters off southern Iran.
- Khamenei threatened that "enemy" forces will soon be driven out of the Arabian Sea.
- Khamenei's remarks were made during Iran's Sacred Defence Week.
- The statement also marked the anniversary of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's killing in 2024.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that "enemy" forces will soon be driven out of the Arabian Sea, stating that Iranian fighters have already pushed them away from the country's southern waters. According to state media, Khamenei said that these forces, having suffered "painful blows" from Iranian combatants and guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, "dare not venture beyond the Arabian Sea." He added that any attempts to do so have only resulted in self-harm, and that the time is approaching when the Arabian Sea will also be cleared of their presence. Khamenei's message was delivered during Sacred Defence Week, which commemorates the Iran-Iraq War, and also marked the anniversary of the 2024 killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that the country is open to "real diplomacy" but prepared to confront any new US attacks, even if it leads to an "apocalyptic war." US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, expressed expectations of further talks with Iran and claimed that Washington would win the war "very soon."