Khamenei Says US Bases in Middle East Are No Longer Safe After War, Declares New Order
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 26
Khamenei Says US Bases in Middle East Are No Longer Safe After War, Declares New Order
6 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 26
Mojtaba Khamenei said US military bases across the Middle East will no longer be safe after the war, casting the conflict as a strategic defeat for Washington and Israel.
In a written statement for the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, he said the region’s nations and lands would no longer serve as a shield for American bases.
The statement also declared victory and a new regional order, sharpening Iran’s rhetoric even as talks to end the conflict were still continuing.
Saudi Arabia’s Hajj was framed by Khamenei as a platform for “narrating the victory” of what he called the war against the US-Israeli alliance.
As a fragile peace deal is negotiated, why is Iran's new leader threatening all US military bases in the region?
With Iran controlling the world's main oil artery, what does its 'new regional order' mean for the global economy?
The 2026 Iran War: From Khamenei’s Succession to Global Energy Crisis
Overview
In May 2026, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared a 'new order' in the Middle East, escalating rhetoric against the United States and Israel during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. He warned that regional countries would no longer protect American bases, signaling a critical shift in Iran’s stance and making U.S. military installations appear vulnerable. This declaration challenged existing security structures and called for Islamic unity against common adversaries. Khamenei’s message marked a turning point, setting the stage for the 2026 Iran War and reshaping alliances and power dynamics across the region.