Mojtaba Khamenei Denies Iranian Involvement in Recent Attacks on Turkey and Oman

In a recent address, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei denied any Iranian military involvement in the recent attacks on Turkey and Oman. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relations with neighboring countries and warned against deceptive tactics that could create divisions. Khamenei also highlighted the need for improved living standards and infrastructure in Iran, declaring the new year as one focused on economic resilience. Meanwhile, NATO has bolstered its air defense presence in Turkey following missile threats from Iran, marking a significant moment in regional security dynamics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 12:20 IST

Iran's Supreme Leader Addresses Recent Regional Tensions

Tehran: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has firmly stated that the Iranian military and its allies were not responsible for the recent assaults in Turkey and Oman.

In a message celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan, and Nowruz, the Iranian New Year observed on March 21, Khamenei emphasized Iran's positive relations with both Turkey and Oman. He cautioned against Israel's potential 'false flag' operations aimed at sowing discord between Iran and its neighboring countries, as reported by a news agency.

Khamenei warned that such deceptive tactics could also be employed in other nations.

He underscored the significance of fostering strong ties with neighboring countries and urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to improve their bilateral relations, expressing his willingness to facilitate this process.

The Iranian leader also highlighted the necessity of enhancing the living standards of citizens and improving national infrastructure, focusing on public welfare and economic growth, while declaring the new year as the 'year of resistance economy in light of national unity.'

In a related development, NATO has deployed an additional Patriot air defense system to Turkey's southern Adana province, following the interception of a ballistic missile from Iran that entered Turkish airspace last week.

Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, spokesperson for the Turkish Defence Ministry, confirmed that the missile, launched on March 13, was neutralized over the eastern Mediterranean by NATO's air and missile defense units.

Earlier, on February 28, Israel and the United States conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, resulting in the death of Iran's former supreme leader, along with several military leaders and civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. military installations in the Middle East.