Khamenei says US will withdraw from Strait of Hormuz after 'painful blows'

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claimed the United States will withdraw from the Strait of Hormuz and eventually the Middle East after suffering "painful blows" in the region. The statement comes amid Washington-Tehran tensions over control of the key energy shipping route. Khamenei made the remarks as part of an ongoing confrontation between the two nations, with Iran asserting that US forces face mounting pressure in the area. The Strait of Hormuz is critical for global oil and gas transport, making the dispute strategically significant. The claim reflects Tehran's broader narrative of US decline in the region, though no specific incidents were cited to support the assertion. The strait remains a focal point for international maritime security concerns.