Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has been quoted as predicting that U.S. military forces will soon be driven out of the Arabian Sea.

In a message to mark Iran's Sacred Defense Week, the ayatollah - who has not been seen or heard from directly since the war began - said U.S. forces were unable to advance beyond the Arabian Sea, which leads to the Strait of Hormuz, "because of the painful blows they have received."

He added that soon, U.S. troops would be driven from the Arabian Sea, too.

U.S. forces have operated across the region since the war began, including to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in defiance of I...