Nine days after US and Israeli strikes killed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s third supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. State television announced the appointment with the slogan, “At Your Command, Sayyid Mojtaba.”
Explosions were reported early Monday in Qatar, home to a major US air base. Iran’s missile attacks come weeks after nationwide protests were violently suppressed, leaving thousands dead. Mojtaba Khamenei is seen as a hardliner who will continue his father’s rejection of dissent.
US President Donald Trump criticized the young Khamenei as a “lightweight” and warned that any successor must consider US approval. Israel also threatened to target the new leader if he pursued Iran’s nuclear agenda.
China called Iran’s leadership change an internal matter. Meanwhile, global oil markets reacted sharply, with crude prices soaring past $100 per barrel due to Gulf tensions. Energy-dependent countries like Japan and South Korea saw markets drop at the start of the week.
The US State Department ordered non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia after drone attacks targeted the US embassy. The US has reported seven combat deaths in the ongoing conflict.
Israel struck five oil facilities near Tehran early Sunday, killing at least four people and igniting fires. Tehran’s governor reported that fuel distribution in the capital was temporarily disrupted. Flights across the Gulf were canceled, stranding tourists, while a dark haze and toxic fumes enveloped Tehran.
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In Lebanon, Israel targeted a hotel in Beirut, killing four people, while Hezbollah fighters engaged Israeli forces landing via helicopters. At least 394 people have reportedly died in Lebanese airstrikes since the war began, including 83 children and 42 women. Saudi Arabia reported two deaths in Al Kharj province from projectile attacks.
Iran’s missiles also struck Israel’s commercial hub, Tel Aviv, injuring six people. Bahrain and Kuwait suffered infrastructure damage, including water and fuel facilities, while several civilians were injured. Iran’s health ministry reported at least 1,200 civilians killed and around 10,000 wounded, though independent verification is not available.
Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the bombings and urged dialogue. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan reopened its border with Iran for cargo traffic after drone strikes hit Nakhchivan International Airport and nearby areas. Iran denied targeting Azerbaijan, suggesting Israel may be responsible for sowing discord among Muslim nations.
