Dhaka, May 1 -- Iran's supreme leader has declared that the only place for Americans in the Persian Gulf is "at the bottom of its waters", signalling a new era for the region's history, The Times of Israel reports.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written statement on Thursday, struck a defiant tone while insisting the Islamic Republic will safeguard its nuclear and missile capabilities.

The Israeli daily noted that the address, read by a state television anchor, likely serves to establish a firm position as US President Donald Trump pushes for a broader deal to solidify a fragile ceasefire.

Mojtaba has remained out of the public eye since being reportedly wounded in the Feb 28 attack that killed his father, the 86-year-old supreme lea...