'Gulf No Longer Shield For US Bases': Mojtaba Khamenei's Message As Iran Peace Talks Hang In Balance

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 13:29 IST

Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Gulf nations would no longer act as a “shield” for American military bases, saying the US was losing influence in the region.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on Tuesday warned that countries in the Gulf region would no longer serve as a “shield" for American military bases, even as Tehran and Washington continue discussions over a possible framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a written Eid al-Adha message carried by Iranian state television and cited by AFP, Mojtaba Khamenei said, “What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn backwards, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for American bases."

According to the report, Khamenei also said the United States was steadily losing influence in the region and was “moving further and further away from its former status with each passing day."

Al Jazeera, citing comments posted on Khamenei’s Telegram channel, reported that the Iranian leader said America would no longer have “a safe haven" in the Gulf region.

“The hands of time do not turn back, and the nations and territories of the region will no longer serve as a shield for American bases. America will no longer have a safe haven for evil or for establishing military bases in the region," Khamenei said, according to the report.

Reuters reported that Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that conclusions had been reached on several issues discussed in a possible 14-point memorandum of understanding, though he cautioned that a final deal was not imminent.

According to Reuters, the framework under discussion focuses on ending the war and lifting a US naval blockade in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The report added that both sides had indicated progress toward a memorandum that could pause the war and provide negotiators 60 days to pursue a broader agreement.

Reuters further reported that senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi said the possible framework could include an end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, the lifting of the US naval blockade, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, and freedom for Tehran to sell oil internationally.

However, Nooshabadi also said Iran’s draft did not include commitments related to its nuclear programme.

NUCLEAR ISSUE REMAINS A KEY STUMBLING BLOCK

Significant disagreements remain between the two sides, particularly over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, sanctions relief, ballistic missile capabilities and regional conflicts involving Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A senior official in US President Donald Trump’s administration told Reuters that Iran had agreed “in principle" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the American naval blockade and disposal of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile.

Reuters also reported that Baghaei said details regarding management of the Strait of Hormuz were still under discussion between Iran and Oman.

The agency further said that if Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approves the memorandum, it would then be sent to Mojtaba Khamenei for final approval.

A senior US official told Reuters that Washington believed Khamenei had already endorsed the broad outline of the proposed agreement.

MOJTABA KHAMENEI REMAINS OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW

Amid the developments, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since taking over in March after the death of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli air strikes.

Iran International reported that Iranian media published a separate Hajj-related message attributed to Khamenei claiming that the United States and Israel had been targeted through missile and drone capabilities “on land, at sea and in the air."

The message further asserted that regional countries shared “capacities and interests" that could contribute to shaping “a new order in the region and the world," according to Iran International.

News world 'Gulf No Longer Shield For US Bases': Mojtaba Khamenei's Message As Iran Peace Talks Hang In Balance

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