Iran's new supreme leader vows to keep blocking Strait of Hormuz in first statement released by regime

BBC update

IRAN'S new supreme leader vows to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel, in a statement read by a presenter on state TV.

Mojtaba Khamenei - who has not been seen in public since succeeding his father - also says Iran will "avenge the blood of Iranians" who have been killed.

More cargo ships have been attacked in the Gulf, apparently by Iran. Two tankers were hit near Iraq, while a container ship was struck near the UAE. Iranian state media says Iranian forces were behind at least one strike.

In Iran, US-Israeli strikes on Tehran have targeted street checkpoints of the Basij - a volunteer militia that has suppressed protests.

The US and Israel want to create the conditions for Iranians to take to the streets, writes Lyse Doucet - but for people living there, the strikes are amplifying their fear as war intensifies around them.

Israeli strikes have killed several people in Lebanon, including at least eight in Beirut's seafront area, while Israel is also carrying out "wide-scale" attacks on Iran.

In comments translated by BBC Persian, Khamenei says that the "lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz" should still be used by Iran.

He then says that Iran has a policy of "friendship" with neighbouring countries, but advises them to close American bases, which he says Iran will continue to target.

Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran will not hesitate to "avenge the blood of Iranians" who have been killed.

He says this is especially true in the case of Minab, where a US strike near a school killed 168 people, including around 110 children.

Iran says the school was hit by a US missile. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told the BBC's Tom Bateman last week that they are investigating.