3 min readMay 26, 2026 05:09 PM IST Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday warned that American military bases across the Gulf would no longer have a “safe haven”, hinting at a sharper tone from Tehran even as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a wider regional escalation, news agency AFP reported. “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,” said Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since he took office in March, in a message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, AFP reported. The statement comes amid renewed negotiations involving US and Iranian officials over de-escalation and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The warning is being seen as one of Tehran’s strongest public messages in recent weeks, directed at both Washington and Gulf Arab states hosting American military infrastructure. Analysts say the remarks underscore Iran’s efforts to maintain strategic pressure while talks remain underway in Doha and …