Iran’s ruling clerics on Sunday appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, defying threats from the United States and Israel.
The decision came nine days after US-Israeli strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plunging the Middle East into a new wave of war.
The Assembly of Experts said Mojtaba, 56, is Iran’s third supreme leader, chosen decisively despite what it called “brutal aggression” from foreign powers.
President Donald Trump dismissed Mojtaba as a “lightweight,” warning he would not last without Washington’s approval, comments rejected by Tehran’s top diplomat.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the appointment is Iran’s sovereign decision and demanded that Trump apologise for starting the conflict in the region.
Mojtaba Khamenei is seen as a conservative figure, closely linked to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran’s military apparatus.
Overnight, Israel struck five oil facilities near Tehran, killing at least four and igniting blazes that filled the city with acrid smoke.
Tehran’s governor reported fuel distribution was temporarily interrupted, while residents described a dark haze making the air “unbreathable” and blocking the sun.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they have enough supplies to sustain drone and missile attacks for up to six months across the region.
Missile salvos from Iran hit near Tel Aviv, wounding six civilians, while Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain reported attacks damaging critical infrastructure.
Iran’s health ministry reported at least 1,200 civilians killed and 10,000 wounded, with Lebanon reporting nearly 400 deaths from Israeli air strikes.
Trump suggested the war could be won if an Iran leader acceptable to Washington takes power, while attending a return of six US service members’ bodies.
Analysts warn the conflict shows no clear end, with international calls for dialogue growing, including prayers from Pope Leo XIV for peace and silence.