Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, named Iran supreme leader as US, Isreal plot his removal

Mojtaba Khamenei, the hardline son of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has been named the country’s new supreme leader as tensions escalate in the Middle East.

The development is expected to draw criticism from Donald Trump, who described the potential selection of Mojtaba Khamenei by Iran’s ruling clerics as “unacceptable.”

NBC reports that the announcement comes amid intensifying conflict in the region that has pushed global oil prices above US$100 per barrel. Trump, however, said the spike in prices would likely be temporary and described it as “a very small price to pay.”

Over the weekend, Israel carried out strikes on Iranian oil depots, while Iran responded by targeting energy facilities across the region and restricting movement through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.

The United States military also confirmed the death of another service member in the conflict, bringing the total number of American troops killed in combat to seven.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected calls for a ceasefire, stating that Iran would continue its military campaign.

Speaking on Meet the Press on NBC News, Araghchi said Iran must “continue fighting for the sake of our people.”

He declined to comment on whether Russia had provided intelligence support to Tehran.

The conflict has already claimed hundreds of lives across the Middle East. Iranian state media reports that at least 940 people have been killed in Iran following Israeli and U.S. strikes, while 12 people have died in Israel due to Iranian attacks.

Iran launched further strikes against Israel and several Gulf countries on Monday, shortly after state television reported Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as supreme leader.

Iran’s powerful paramilitary force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, answers directly to the supreme leader, giving the younger Khamenei a decisive role in shaping the country’s war strategy.

The escalating conflict has also rattled global financial markets.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell by as much as seven percent in early Monday trading in Tokyo, while other Asian markets also declined amid concerns that rising energy costs could fuel inflation and dampen consumer spending in the United States.

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