Iran’s ruling clerics appoint Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, defying US and Israeli opposition as regional conflict intensifies
TEHRAN: Iran’s ruling clerics have appointed the slain leader’s son as the country’s new supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts chose Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, defying threats from the United States and Israel.
The clerical body said it “did not hesitate for a minute” in making its choice. This decision came despite what it called “the brutal aggression of the criminal America and the evil Zionist regime”.
US President Donald Trump had previously dismissed the younger Khamenei as a “lightweight”. He insisted again that the US should have a say in the appointment.
“If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long,” Trump told ABC News before the announcement. Tehran’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said the decision was Iran’s alone.
He stated Iran would “allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs”. Araghchi also demanded Trump “apologise to people of the region” for starting the war.
The appointment follows US-Israeli strikes that killed the elder Ayatollah Ali Khamenei nine days ago. That event plunged the Middle East into a widening conflict.
Overnight, Israel struck five oil facilities in and around Tehran. The attacks killed at least four people and sparked large blazes.
A dark haze hung over the city of 10 million people, blocking out the sun. Authorities warned the fumes from burning fuel could be toxic and urged citizens to stay indoors.
“The blaze has been burning for more than 12 hours, the air has become unbreathable,” said one 35-year-old Tehran resident in a text message. “I can’t even go out to do the daily shopping.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had enough supplies to continue their drone and missile campaign for up to six months. Spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used only first- and second-generation missiles.
He warned that “advanced and less-used long-range missiles” would be used in the coming days. Several blasts were heard over Tel Aviv after Israel detected a salvo of missiles from Iran.
Emergency services said six people were wounded in central Israel. Saudi Arabia said two people were killed and 12 wounded by a “military projectile” in Al Kharj province.
Kuwait said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport. Bahrain reported damage to a water desalination plant.
Iran’s health ministry said at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded. These figures could not be independently verified by AFP.
Lebanon’s health minister said at least 394 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes. That total includes 83 children and 42 women since Lebanon was dragged into the war.
Two Israeli soldiers have been killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon. Trump attended the return of the bodies of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait.
Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending the conflict. US and Israeli officials say the war could last a month or longer.
Trump has suggested Iran’s economy could be rebuilt if a leader “acceptable” to Washington replaces the late supreme leader. Pope Leo XIV prayed “that the roar of the bombs may cease” and that “a space for dialogue may open”.