BREAKING: Future of Gulf will be without US presence: Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei

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According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that the future of the Persian Gulf region will develop without the involvement of the United States, as he outlined plans for new governance and legal frameworks for key maritime routes.

In a statement released on Thursday to mark Persian Gulf National Day, Khamenei said foreign military presence—particularly that of the United States—has historically contributed to instability in the region. He added that a “new phase” is now taking shape, driven by regional actors.

Describing the Gulf as central to both regional identity and global commerce, Khamenei emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, key arteries for global energy shipments and maritime trade.

He said Iran intends to play a leading role in ensuring security in the Gulf through what he described as updated management of the Strait of Hormuz, including new legal and administrative frameworks. According to him, these measures are designed to enhance stability and unlock economic opportunities for countries in the region.

“These frameworks will bring stability, progress and economic benefits for all nations in the region,” he said.

Khamenei also stressed that Gulf nations share a common destiny and should collectively shape the region’s future, arguing that external powers “from thousands of kilometres away” have no role in determining its direction.

The statement referenced the emergence of what it described as a “new regional order,” amid shifting geopolitical dynamics following recent conflicts.

Tensions in the region escalated after a war that began on February 28 involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which disrupted shipping lanes and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.

Although a ceasefire announced on April 8 has largely held, diplomatic negotiations remain ongoing, with discussions focusing on maritime access and long-term security arrangements in the Gulf.

Despite the truce, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and shipping, enforced by the U.S. Navy, in a bid to restrict Iran’s oil exports and increase pressure during negotiations.

Iran first designated April 30 as Persian Gulf National Day in 2005 to commemorate the expulsion of Portuguese forces from the Strait of Hormuz during the Safavid era.

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership on March 9 following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking office, the new supreme leader has largely communicated through written statements.