Iran's Khamenei Says Regional Nations Won't Shield US Bases

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared on Tuesday that nations in the region will no longer act as shields for American military bases, asserting that U.S. influence is waning. The remarks were made in a written statement marking the Eid al-Adha holiday and carried by Iranian state media.

Khamenei stated that the United States is moving further away from its former position each day and will no longer have a safe haven in the region for aggression or establishing military bases. He has not appeared in public since assuming his role in March, following the death of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes that opened the conflict on February 28.

The comments come as Iran and the United States continue exchanges aimed at reaching a deal to end a war that began in late February and spread across the Middle East. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8. Iran’s foreign ministry has indicated that understandings have been reached on many issues during discussions over a potential agreement to end the war, but cautioned that a final deal is not yet imminent.

According to diplomatic sources, the framework under...