Tehran, Sep 29 (V7N)- Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said the United States should leave the region, warning that its presence in the Arabian Sea would eventually be removed.
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei said Iran’s “enemies” had suffered what he described as a painful blow from Iranian forces and defenders of the Strait of Hormuz.
Although he did not directly name the United States in the remarks, Khamenei said those who attempted to take risks in the region would do so at their own peril and that their presence in the Arabian Sea would soon be eliminated.
Khamenei also said Iran’s opponents had attempted to weaken the social foundations of the Islamic system. He claimed that Iranians from different sections of society were standing together to defend the country and the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iran’s delegation attending the UN General Assembly in New York said there was no plan for a new round of direct negotiations with the United States. IRNA quoted a source close to the delegation as saying Tehran’s position had already been conveyed to Washington through Qatari mediation.
However, indirect diplomatic contacts continued. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Qatari mediators in New York on Monday and said the discussions focused on ways to address Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He said Tehran was awaiting a US response through the Qatari channel.
Iran has proposed a seven-day framework under which it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations on its nuclear programme if Washington meets conditions including an end to the naval blockade, sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal but said he expected talks to resume. His administration has also been reported as considering economic relief for Iran in exchange for concrete steps concerning its nuclear programme. Trump subsequently denied that he had offered Tehran sanctions relief or access to frozen funds.
Trump also said US officials had been in contact with mediators over efforts to end the conflict and predicted that the war would end quickly, without identifying the mediators involved.
Meanwhile, Iran has protested US sanctions targeting its aviation sector, saying the restrictions have disrupted regional air services. Iranian officials said Tehran had filed complaints with international bodies over what it described as unlawful restrictions.
Flights between Iraq’s Najaf and Iranian airports resumed on Monday after a temporary suspension linked to concerns over the US sanctions.
The latest developments come as diplomatic efforts continue over the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route. Both sides continue to differ over the conditions for ending hostilities and resuming formal negotiations.
END/SMA/AJ
