Iran supreme leader says US will be forced out of Middle East: state TV

Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Monday that the United States would be forced to leave the Middle East after suffering "painful blows," according to a statement carried by state television. He has not been seen in public since the war began in late February.

What did Khamenei say about the US and the Arabian Sea?

In a written statement attributed to him, Khamenei said enemy forces no longer venture beyond the Arabian Sea after suffering blows from Iranian fighters and the "guardians of the Strait of Hormuz." He did not explicitly mention the United States. He added that the Arabian Sea would soon "rid itself of their presence."

"Whenever they have braved this risk, they have only brought harm upon themselves," he said. The remarks came despite attempts to revive talks aimed at ending the fighting.

Where is Khamenei, and why does his silence matter?

Khamenei has not been seen in public since the start of the Middle East war in late February. Monday's remarks were delivered only as a written statement carried by state television.

Why is the Arabian Sea important to Iran?

The Arabian Sea stretches from the Arabian Peninsula toward India in the east. It is a vital maritime corridor that leads to Iran's coasts and the Strait of Hormuz.

Who controls the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran and the United States have been vying for control over Hormuz since the war started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Before the war, the strategic shipping route carried about a fifth of the world's oil and gas.

Tehran imposed a blockade on Hormuz after the war began. Washington responded with its own blockade on Iranian ports.