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

Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared the country's naval forces are prepared to inflict a new defeat on the United States and Israel. The statement was made in a message to the Iranian army ahead of Army Day of the Islamic Republic.

"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's message read, according to a published text.

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

The remarks were perceived as a threatening declaration by some international observers. One British publication described Khamenei's address as containing a "frightening threat" while also harshly criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump and American forces.

Iranian Army Day is observed annually on April 18. The state holiday was established after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and refers specifically to Iran's conventional army, distinct from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The statement comes 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 declaration by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on April 17 that the strategic strait was fully open for commercial shipping.