Iran's Supreme Leader Warns Navy Ready to Defeat US and Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that the country's naval forces are prepared to inflict fresh defeats on the United States and Israel. The statement was made in a message marking Iran's annual Army Day.

"Just as its drones swiftly strike American and Zionist villains, its valiant navy is ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats," Khamenei stated in his address to the armed forces.

The Iranian leader also called for continued development of national security and military capabilities, noting that necessary measures are being taken to implement relevant plans.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions. On Saturday, April 18, Iran announced it had resumed military control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing American "piracy and maritime banditry under the pretext of a so-called blockade." This followed a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi on April 17 that the strategic waterway was fully open for commercial shipping.

Iran's Army Day is observed annually on April 18 (29 Farvardin in the Iranian calendar). The national holiday was established after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and specifically honors Iran's regular army, distinct from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).