Iran issues statement purported to be from new leader as war with U.S. and Israel rages

## Summary
Iran issues statement purported to be from new leader as war with U.S. and Israel rages Updated March 12, 2026 10:11 AM ET Originally published March 12, 2026 6:07 AM ET By NPR Staff Mojtaba Khamenei (center), the son of the killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Rouzbeh Fouladi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images) Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Iran's state media issued what it said was a statement by Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered its 13th day. It was purported to be the new leader's first statement since he succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war. To jump to specific areas of coverage, use the links below: Attacks on vessels | Oil stockpiles | Strikes across the Gulf | Israel-Hezbollah escalation | Iranian school attack Two oil tankers hit in Iraqi waters Two oil tankers were hit in Iraqi territorial waters near the southern port area of Basra , Iraqi officials said Thursday – the first oil-related strike reported in Iraq's waters during the war, another sign of the war's escalation. Israeli military officials say about half of the missiles Iran has launched at Israel have carried cluster warheads, which spread out into smaller bombs over a wider area – increasing the risk to civilians. - Daniel Estrin, Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Rebecca Rosman Pentagon: Preliminary assessment suggests U.S. likely responsible for strike on Iranian school The Pentagon has opened a formal investigation into the missile strike on an Iranian girls school that killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children, after a preliminary assessment suggested the U.S. was at fault, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

## Article Content
Iran issues statement purported to be from new leader as war with U.S. and Israel rages
Updated March 12, 2026
10:11 AM ET
Originally published
March 12, 2026
6:07 AM ET
By
NPR Staff
Mojtaba Khamenei (center), the son of the killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Rouzbeh Fouladi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
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toggle caption
Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
Iran's state media issued what it said was a statement by Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered its 13th day.
It was purported to be the new leader's first statement since he succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war.
It's unclear if the statement, broadcast by a different person's voice, was from Khamenei himself.
The statement said Iran will avenge the blood of its "martyrs," including the victims of an attack on a girls school in the city of Minab, which Iranian officials say killed at least 165 people, many of them children.
The statement said the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for a fifth of the world's oil supply, should remain closed. It said Iran continues to believe in friendship with its neighbors but will continue targeting U.S. bases in the region.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that
Mojtaba Khamenei
was lightly wounded in the war.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
Here are other major updates about the conflict.
To jump to specific areas of coverage, use the links below:
Attacks on vessels
|
Oil stockpiles
|
Strikes across the Gulf
|
Israel-Hezbollah escalation
|
Iranian school attack
Two oil tankers hit in Iraqi waters
Two oil tankers were hit in Iraqi territorial waters near the southern port area of Basra , Iraqi officials said Thursday – the first oil-related strike reported in Iraq's waters during the war, another sign of the war's escalation.
Iran, a critical ally of Iraq, took responsibility for attacking one of the tankers, which it said was owned by the U.S.
A port official said the attack targeted vessels near Basra's port approaches, and Iraq's security spokesman described it as sabotage.
Iraqi officials said one person was killed, and 38 crew members were rescued, with search operations continuing.
Iran has stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure and commercial shipping in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, warning that the world should brace for oil prices to double.
-Jane Arraf
U.S. and allies to release record oil stockpiles
The U.S. confirmed it will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a coordinated International Energy Agency (IEA) release of 400 million barrels from emergency stockpiles.
The U.S. contribution amounts to roughly 40% of the total, to be released gradually over about four months.
The IEA's executive director, Fatih Birol,
said the goal
is to keep the supply of oil flowing as the conflict disrupts shipping routes and energy infrastructure. But analysts warn stockpile releases can only partially offset prolonged disruption in the Gulf, where roughly a fifth of global oil consumption normally transits the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, President Trump said
the price spike
is temporary and said the reserve release would push prices down.
According to the popular app
Gas Buddy
, the current average cost of regular unleaded is now up to $3.61 a gallon.
- Camila Domonoske
Iran continues attacks on Gulf States
Countries in the Gulf reported new incoming threats and interceptions Thursday, as Iran continued firing drones and missiles across the region – including at U.S. military bases.
The UAE's defense ministry said air defenses
were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks
, and that sounds heard in parts of the country were from intercepts.
Kuwait's defense ministry
said its air defenses intercepted ballistic missiles
and drones that penetrated the northern and southern parts of the country's airspace.
Saudi Arabia
said it intercepted and destroyed
drones headed toward the Shaybah oil field.
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday condemning Iran for recent attacks across the Persian Gulf region,
calling them
a "breach of international law" and "a serious threat to international peace and security."
- Rebecca Rosman
Israel launches large strikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut after rocket fire into Israel
People inspect homes damaged by a projectile launched from Lebanon, in Haniel central Israel, on Thursday.
Baz Ratner/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Baz Ratner/AP
The militant group Hezbollah launched its biggest rocket attack against Israel since the start of the war with Iran. The Israeli military said the Iranian-backed group f

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- It's unclear if the statement, broadcast by a different person's voice, was from Khamenei himself.
- The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday condemning Iran for recent attacks across the Persian Gulf region, calling them a "breach of international law" and "a serious threat to international peace and security." - Rebecca Rosman Israel launches large strikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut after rocket fire into Israel People inspect homes damaged by a projectile launched from Lebanon, in Haniel central Israel, on Thursday.
- Israeli military officials say about half of the missiles Iran has launched at Israel have carried cluster warheads, which spread out into smaller bombs over a wider area – increasing the risk to civilians. - Daniel Estrin, Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Rebecca Rosman Pentagon: Preliminary assessment suggests U.S. likely responsible for strike on Iranian school The Pentagon has opened a formal investigation into the missile strike on an Iranian girls school that killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children, after a preliminary assessment suggested the U.S. was at fault, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

### Implications
- Iran issues statement purported to be from new leader as war with U.S. and Israel rages Updated March 12, 2026 10:11 AM ET Originally published March 12, 2026 6:07 AM ET By NPR Staff Mojtaba Khamenei (center), the son of the killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Rouzbeh Fouladi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images) Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Iran's state media issued what it said was a statement by Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran entered its 13th day.
- The statement said Iran will avenge the blood of its "martyrs," including the victims of an attack on a girls school in the city of Minab, which Iranian officials say killed at least 165 people, many of them children.
- The statement said the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for a fifth of the world's oil supply, should remain closed.
- It said Iran continues to believe in friendship with its neighbors but will continue targeting U.S. bases in the region.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, israel, oil topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1274.