DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - In his first public message, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed on Thursday that Tehran will continue attacking US military bases in the region if they are used to launch attacks against Iran, as well as doubling down on a commitment to blockade the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iranian foes.

In a written statement, Khamenei said some regional military bases had been used in recent attacks on Iran and that Iranian forces had targeted those facilities without attacking the countries hosting them.

He warned that such strikes could continue if the bases remain operational.

“We have targeted only those bases,” he said, adding that Iran will continue doing so if necessary, while still expressing support for friendly relations with neighboring countries.

Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the opening day of the US-Israeli military campaign, also urged regional countries hosting foreign military bases to close them and clarify their stance toward those attacking Iran.

"The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used," he continued, coming after Iran has prevented passage through the key waterway since the outbreak of conflict, posing stark implications for global trade and energy markets.

Khamenei also thanked the so-called "resistance" in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, with pro-Iran Iraqi militias having extensively targeted US military bases and diplomatic facilities in the country, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, which has come under incessant bombardment.

The statement was read aloud on state television but was not accompanied by a video message, with speculation having risen regarding the new leader's physical condition after he was present in his father's compound during the strikes that ended the senior Khamenei's tenure as supreme leader.

"A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities," he continued, adding that Iran is particularly sensitive to the killing of children, citing what he described as a deliberate attack on a school in Minab that led to the deaths of hundreds.

Khamenei further warned that Iran would demand compensation from its enemies for damages caused by attacks. If compensation is not paid, he said Tehran could seize equivalent assets or destroy property belonging to the enemy.

“We will obtain compensation from the enemy,” he said. “If they refuse, we will take from their assets the amount we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy their assets to the same extent.”

He also ordered officials to ensure that those wounded in the attacks receive free medical treatment and that authorities compensate civilians for damage to homes and personal property.

In the final part of the message, Khamenei addressed his late father, whom he described as a “martyred leader,” praising his patience and leadership and pledging to continue his path.