Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader, amid escalating military pressure from the United States and Israel.
Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts responsible for selecting Iran’s top leader, confirmed that voting has taken place and that the official announcement will be made soon.
“The Khamenei name will continue,” he said, signalling that Mojtaba was the dominant candidate in the selection process.
The appointment follows the death of Ali Khamenei in an early military strike reportedly carried out by US and Israeli forces more than a week ago. Former US President Donald Trump had previously indicated interest in intervening in Iran’s leadership succession, a move firmly rejected by Tehran, further heightening existing tensions.
Sources close to Iran’s leadership said 56-year-old Mojtaba remains the frontrunner to succeed his father. His ascension is expected to maintain hardline control within Iran’s political structure, given his influence over the country’s security apparatus and key economic networks.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the US and Israel are considering deploying special forces to seize Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles if the conflict escalates further. Trump, however, reportedly stated such action would only be considered if Iran’s military capabilities were completely incapacitated.
Since the start of the ongoing military exchanges, more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have reportedly died, with thousands more injured. Iranian attacks have also claimed several lives in Israel.
US military casualties have risen, while Israel confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in southern Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities.
Israel has intensified attacks on strategic locations in Iran, including oil depots in Tehran, sending thick black smoke across the capital. Several senior Iranian officials were reportedly killed during these strikes.
The US military confirmed the deaths of seven personnel following Iran’s retaliatory strikes during the first week of operations. Trump had previously held a military ceremony to receive six of the fallen soldiers, emphasising that the US would continue to pressure Iran to surrender without negotiations.
Iran has also launched drone and missile attacks on several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. These attacks have caused fatalities and significant infrastructure damage, including fires at a government building in Kuwait and damage to a desalination plant in Bahrain. UAE authorities reported successfully intercepting many of the incoming missiles and drones, though some still penetrated their defence systems. Saudi Arabia warned that continued attacks on its territory and energy sector could provoke a strong military response.
The situation has also escalated in Lebanon, where Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory. Israel responded with large-scale airstrikes, including an attack on a hotel in Beirut reportedly housing an Iranian commander, resulting in multiple casualties in the city centre.
