Iran's Supreme Leader Predicts US Withdrawal from Middle East

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei predicted Monday that the US will ultimately withdraw from the Middle East after suffering "painful blows" in the Strait of Hormuz, without explicitly naming Washington. Speaking via a statement aired on state television, Khamenei said enemies "no longer venture beyond the Arabian Sea" following strikes by "valiant fighters and guards" in the strait, adding that the sea will soon be "liberated" from their presence. The strait carries 20% of globally traded hydrocarbons. Iran closed the maritime chokepoint after Israeli-US attacks began on February 28, prompting a US blockade of Iranian ports. Khamenei, unseen publicly since his appointment in March, made the remarks amid ongoing regional tensions.