Iran's supreme leader issues statement on strait of Hormuz and nuclear programs

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, released a rare written statement on National Persian Gulf Day asserting Iran's control over the strait of Hormuz and vowing to protect Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The statement marked Khamenei's first public communication since his appointment in early March, following reports of severe injury from a February bombing that killed his predecessor. Khamenei declared the U.S. has no place in the Persian Gulf region and signaled defiance toward U.S.-led negotiations.