Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that the "bright future" of the Gulf region will be a future without the US presence.
"By God's help and power, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without America, one serving the progress, comfort and prosperity of its people," Khamenei said in a statement.
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Marking the National Persian Gulf Day, the Supreme Leader said Iran will secure the Gulf region and eliminate "the enemy's abuses of the waterway." Khamenei added that the new management of the Strait of Hormuz would bring calm, progress and economic benefits to all Gulf nations.
In a written message broadcast on state television, he said Iran will protect its "nuclear and missile capabilities" as a national asset.
"Ninety million proud and honourable Iranians inside and outside the country regard all of Iran's identity-based, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities - from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities - as national assets, and will protect them just as they protect the country's waters, land and airspace," Khamenei said.
Pointing out that a "new chapter" is taking shape for the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, he said, "We and our neighbours across the waters of the Persian Gulf and the (Gulf) of Oman share a common destiny. Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometres away to act with greed and malice there have no place in it, except at the bottom of its waters."