Iran’s Khamenei calls for Gulf unity as Hormuz tensions persist - Al Jazeera

**Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls for Gulf Unity Amid Ongoing Hormuz Tensions**

Tehran’s highest religious authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a stark warning to the rulers of the Gulf states during a televised address on Monday, urging them to “identify your real enemy” and to cooperate in defending each other against external pressure. Khamenei, speaking from the Imam Khomeini Complex, framed the growing friction in the Strait of Hormuz as a symptom of a broader campaign by the United States and Israel to destabilise the region. He appealed to Gulf monarchies—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman—to set aside historic rivalries and pursue a collective security arrangement that would safeguard maritime trade routes and protect Muslim interests.

The call comes at a time when the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman has become a flashpoint for geopolitical posturing. In recent weeks, U.S. warships have intensified escort operations for commercial vessels, citing Iranian threats to close the strait in retaliation for sanctions and alleged Israeli actions. Tehran, however, dismissed former President Donald Trump’s assertion that the Iranian navy was “decimated,” with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issuing a statement that it remains “alive and well” and ready to defend Iranian waters. No direct naval clash has been reported, but the heightened alertness on both sides has spooked shipping companies, prompting some to reroute cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope—a costly detour that underscores the strait’s economic importance.

Beyond the military dimension, Khamenei highlighted the economic fallout of continued U.S. pressure, noting a sharp decline in Iran’s foreign trade and urging a shift away from reliance on the U.S. dollar. Data released by the Central Bank of Iran shows a 15 % drop in trade volume over the past year, a downturn Khamenei attributed to sanctions and the dollar’s dominance in global transactions. He called on Gulf partners to explore alternative payment mechanisms and regional investment projects, positioning monetary independence as a pillar of the proposed unity. Analysts say that while the leader’s rhetoric may bolster domestic morale, translating it into a concrete Gulf coalition faces significant diplomatic hurdles, given lingering sectarian divides and competing national interests.