Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a statement to the Iranian people on Friday on the occasion of the Nowruz holiday, which also clarified Tehran's position on tensions in the Middle East. In his statement, broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei said that reported Iranian attacks on Turkey and Oman were not carried out by Tehran, but were, he said, operations orchestrated by Israel to sow discord between Iran and its neighbors.
He stressed that Iran wants better relations with its neighbors, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that the country does not seek war with its neighbors, while also denying plans to build nuclear weapons.
However, Khamenei did not apologize to Gulf countries, which have been affected by the attacks, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, increasing tensions in the region.
The statement ends with the message that Iran has won this war and that the country's slogan for 2026 will be: "The Economy of Resistance in the Shadow of Unity and National Security."
