Iran fired missiles toward Israel and several Gulf nations early Monday following the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, succeeding his late father Ali Khamenei.
The leadership ce comes nine days after United States and Israeli strikes reportedly ed the former leader, escalating tensions and pushing the Middle East into a wider conflict. Iranian clerics selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s third Supreme Leader since the Iranian Revolution.
The announcement was made on Iranian state television, where a statement from the Assembly of Experts confirmed the decision. According to the statement, the clerical body voted decisively to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei despite what it described as aggression from the United States and Israel.
Shortly after the announcement, Iran launched missile strikes targeting Israel and several Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones headed toward an eastern oil field, while Bahrain activated warning sirens following missile alerts.
Israel responded with a new wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in central Iran. The conflict has triggered global economic concerns, with crude oil prices surging above one hundred dollars per barrel for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
United States President Donald Trump had previously criticised Mojtaba Khamenei, describing him as inexperienced and suggesting Washington should influence the leadership transition in Iran. Israeli Defence officials had also warned that any successor to the late leader could become a potential target.
The new Iranian leader is widely regarded as a hardliner with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country’s powerful military force. The group quickly pledged loyalty to him, promising full obence and support.
Meanwhile, the conflict has expanded across the region. Iran backed militant group Hezbollah reported clashes with Israeli forces in eastern Lebanon after Israeli helicopters landed near the Syrian border. Lebanese authorities reported hundreds of casualties since fighting intensified.
Officials in Iran say at least 1200 civilians have been ed and around 10000 wounded since the conflict began, although independent verification of the figures remains difficult.
The situation continues to raise concerns about a broader regional war as military operations intensify across multiple fronts in the Middle East.
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