Tehran/Dubai – Hours after being formally appointed as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei ordered a fresh barrage of missiles at Israel early Monday, signaling an uncompromising continuation of the war that has engulfed the Middle East since his father’s assassination nine days ago.
The 56-year-old mid-ranking cleric was selected by the Assembly of Experts in a swift succession, despite explicit threats from US President Donald Trump and Israeli military leaders that they would target any new leader. An announcer on state television solemnly read the statement next to a picture of the new leader, who bears a striking resemblance to his father.
“Mojtaba Khamenei is appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts,” the statement said.
‘At Your Command’
State media wasted no time in projecting the new leader’s authority, showing a projectile launched at Israel bearing the slogan, “At Your Command, Sayyid Mojtaba.” Explosions were also heard early Monday in Qatar, home to a major US air base, and strikes continued across the Gulf.
The Revolutionary Guards quickly pledged their loyalty, stating they were “ready for complete obedience and self-sacrifice in carrying out the divine commands” of the younger Khamenei.
A Region in Flames
The war, ignited by US-Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has now spread to multiple fronts:
- Israel: Iran fired new missiles at Israel, with blasts heard over Tel Aviv and six people wounded.
- Lebanon: Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut, killing four people, including commanders of the Revolutionary Guards’ Qods Force. At least 394 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began.
- Saudi Arabia: Two people were killed and 12 wounded by a projectile in Al Kharj province.
- Bahrain: Several injured and damage reported to a water desalination plant.
- Kuwait: Fuel tanks at the main airport were hit.
In Tehran, Israeli strikes on five oil facilities left the city shrouded in acrid smoke. Authorities warned of toxic fumes and urged citizens to stay indoors, as fuel distribution was “temporarily interrupted.”
Global Fallout
The price of crude oil soared past $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz choked global supply. Markets in Japan and South Korea opened sharply lower.
The US State Department ordered non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia, days after a drone hit the US embassy. The Pentagon confirmed a seventh American combat death in the war.
In a sign of the human cost, an Iranian woman in Tehran texted: “The air has become unbreathable… people say there’s not even any gasoline left at the gas stations.”
Regional Moves
Amidst the chaos, Azerbaijan announced it had reopened its border crossings with Iran for all cargo traffic, despite recent tensions over drone strikes that Tehran blamed on Israel.
Pope Leo XIV prayed “that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open.”
