Published 03/12/2026 16:41 | Edited 03/12/2026 17:18
In an official statement made this Thursday (12), the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, outlined the country’s defense strategy in the face of the escalation of attacks promoted by the United States and Israel. In his first message to the nation, broadcast by PressTV, the leader emphasized national unity and the readiness of the Armed Forces for “continuous and effective defense”, aimed at deterring further aggression on Iranian territory.
The speech comes at a critical time, following air raids that hit facilities in the Tehran region, including Aghdasieh, Shahran and Karaj. According to local sources, the attacks resulted in fatalities and severe damage to oil infrastructure.
Khamenei reiterated that closing the Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic priority, as a measure with a high impact on the global political economy, given that the region is the main bottleneck for the flow of global energy.
Furthermore, the leader welcomed the actions of the so-called “Resistance Front” — which encompasses movements in Lebanon (Hezbollah), Yemen and Iraq — classifying regional collaboration as fundamental against what he defines as Zionist domination projects in the region. In a direct message to neighboring countries, the Ayatollah urged the closure of foreign military bases and signaled that the presence of US troops in the Gulf remains the main obstacle to regional stability.
Read more: Trump’s war generates billion-dollar costs and a conflict with no strategic outcome
The Cost of War and Iran’s Military Resilience
Analysts point out that Tehran’s ability to respond has defied Washington’s expectations. The use of advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles such as the Fattah-1 and the Kheibar Shekan, has demonstrated the ability to overcome traditional air defense systems. According to information from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), “Operation True Promise 4” hit logistical targets and radar infrastructures on several fronts.
In the economic field, the conflict raised the price of a barrel of oil to levels above US$100, with warnings from Tehran that the value could reach US$200 if hostilities persist. Donald Trump’s government faces growing internal pressure due to the operational costs of the war, which have already exceeded US$11 billion in less than a week.
Now it is Iran that imposes conditions for the ceasefire
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed that the path to de-escalation depends on the fulfillment of three fundamental premises:
- Recognition of Sovereign Rights: Including the right to peaceful nuclear enrichment and the end of unilateral sanctions.
- War Reparations: Financial compensation for damage caused to Iran’s civil and economic infrastructure.
- International Guarantees: A security mechanism with the participation of powers such as Russia and China to prevent further aggression.
Censorship in Israel and Netanyahu’s vulnerabilities
As the conflict enters its second week, Benjamin Netanyahu’s uncompromising stance has exposed Israel’s internal fragility. Despite strict military censorship, which prohibits live broadcasts of interceptions and punishes journalists for filming damage, images confirmed by Reuters and Times of Israel reveal the real impact of the attacks: historic buildings in Tel Aviv destroyed, craters in residential neighborhoods and vehicles set on fire in Haifa.
CNN International news highlighted that incidents of press repression were recorded in Israel under the pretext of harming the country’s defense. CNN Turkey reporters were detained during live broadcast in Tel Aviv and had equipment confiscated. CNN’s Erin Burnett admitted that “we cannot show interceptors in the sky because the Israeli government does not allow it, so as not to reveal origins of attacks or defenses.”
While the official Israeli narrative downplays the damage, satellite data and local sources point to significant structural damage and a constant state of alert that paralyzes the country’s economy.
Balance of the theater of war:
On the 13th day of the conflict, the balance is tragic. US and Israeli bombings against around 10,000 strategic points in Iran resulted in more than 1,300 deaths and 17,000 injuries. In response, Iran has maintained uninterrupted attacks, including launching drones against regional bases and urban centers, resulting in 18 deaths and more than 2,700 injuries on Israeli soil, in addition to confirmed casualties among American troops.
Iran signals that it maintains the capacity for a prolonged war, using mines in the Strait of Hormuz to block naval flows and increase pressure on US allies. Without formal negotiations, Tehran rejects any ceasefire that does not meet its sovereign conditions. The scenario highlights the failure of imperialism’s forceful solutions, faced with an Iranian people who remain united in resistance against external aggression.
Source: vermelho.org.br
