Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that foreign actors who commit evil have no place but in the depths of the water [1].

The statement signals a heightened assertion of Iranian control over one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. By pledging to eliminate foreign violations, Tehran is challenging the presence of international naval forces in the region.

Khamenei said that Tehran will secure the Gulf region and end enemy violations of the maritime corridor [1]. He framed this approach as a means to ensure stability, and economic benefit for the surrounding states.

According to reports from Iranian media, the Supreme Leader believes a shift in how the region is managed will lead to a more stable environment [2]. He said a new administration of the Strait of Hormuz will bring calm and progress [2].

The rhetoric emphasizes a transition toward Iranian-led security architecture in the Persian Gulf. This stance positions Tehran as the primary guarantor of maritime safety while simultaneously threatening those it deems adversaries [1].

Khamenei's remarks come at a time of persistent tension regarding the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Supreme Leader said that the only acceptable destination for those who bring harm to the region is the ocean floor [1].

“"Foreigners who commit evil have no place but in the depths of the water"”

Khamenei's rhetoric suggests a strategic pivot toward more aggressive policing of the Strait of Hormuz. By framing the removal of foreign forces as a prerequisite for 'calm and progress,' Iran is attempting to legitimize its dominance over the maritime corridor as a benefit to regional stability rather than a threat to global trade.