Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei leader as war escalates
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- Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the late supreme leader, as the new supreme leader, with the Revolutionary Guard pledging allegiance.
- President Donald Trump called Mojtaba Khamenei “unacceptable” and suggested Iran was responsible for a deadly strike on a girls’ school, despite evidence linking the U.S. to the attack.
- Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel as the conflict intensified, with both Iran and Israel striking new targets, including a Bahraini desalination plant and Iranian oil depots in Tehran.
- Israel attacked Iranian‑backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and claimed to have destroyed the Revolutionary Guard Air Force headquarters and ballistic missile launchers in Tehran.
- U.S. military warned Iranians to stay indoors as attacks were launched from densely populated areas and announced another U.S. soldier death, bringing the total to seven.
- Arab countries reported civilian casualties from Iranian missile and drone attacks, with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE each confirming deaths, and the Arab League head calling Iran’s war strategy “reckless.”
- Ukraine announced it will send experts to help the U.S. and regional allies counter Iranian drone attacks, indicating broader international involvement.
Why it matters: The appointment consolidates Iran’s war command under a hard‑line figure, while oil markets feel the pressure of rising prices and regional economies bear civilian tolls; the U.S. and Israel face heightened operational risks, and neighboring Gulf states confront infrastructure damage and public anger.
