Khamenei Calls for Muslim Unity
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has urged leaders of Muslim countries, particularly those in the Gulf, to identify and confront their "real enemy," in a written statement released on Sunday to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The call for unity comes as regional tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz and stalled diplomatic efforts.
"My emphatic and repeated recommendation to the rulers of Islamic countries, especially the countries of West Asia and the Gulf, is to identify your real enemy, understand his plan and confront it," Khamenei said in the message, which was published on his Telegram account for Islamic Unity Week.
According to Iran's Press TV, Khamenei stated that "unity among Muslims is the fundamental cornerstone for achieving a proud and dominant Islamic civilisation." He also questioned whether Palestinians would have been left "so helpless" and "subjected to the oppression and crimes of the occupiers" if Muslims had been united.
Strait of Hormuz Status
The supreme leader's message comes against the backdrop of an ongoing standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed before the war. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday that Iran had reached an understanding with Oman on a temporary maritime route, but noted that its implementation depended on the United States fulfilling its commitments.
"The Strait of Hormuz is closed," Gharibabadi said, adding that any vessel seeking to cross would have to coordinate with Iran. "Implementing this understanding requires the other side, particularly the US, to fulfil its commitments. Whenever these commitments are implemented, Iran will also take its measures," he added.
Iran and Oman have been discussing a temporary joint shipping corridor and mine clearance, while Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Tehran on Thursday for talks on de-escalation.
Regional and Economic Pressures
According to Reuters, citing Kpler data, seven commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 17 a day earlier. The International Maritime Organization said on Friday that up to 400 ships carrying about 6,000 seafarers have been unable to leave the Gulf safely since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Iran's annual inflation reached 66 percent last month, and President Masoud Pezeshkian said imports and exports had fallen nearly 35 percent because of US sanctions and the naval blockade. Pezeshkian has called for reviving the June interim agreement with Washington, saying, "We can solve our problems and gain our privileges with the memorandum of understanding."
Khamenei's Public Absence
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the US-Israeli attacks on February 28 that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Israeli and American assessments, Khamenei survived the attack but was severely wounded, yet continued to rule the country.