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He had been seen as a potential leader for quite some time, even before an Israeli strike resulted in the death of his father at the onset of the conflict.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian state television announced early Monday that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late supreme leader of Iran, has been appointed as his father’s successor. This development marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict that erupted just over a week ago following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Despite his absence from the public eye since the conflict began, Mojtaba Khamenei was already viewed as a likely candidate for the leadership role even before the Israeli attack that killed his father. Notably, he had never held an elected or official government position prior to this appointment.
The announcement of his leadership comes amid indications of internal discord among Iranian officials, as the nation awaited the decision from the Assembly of Experts. This assembly, composed of clerics responsible for selecting the supreme leader, issued a statement broadcasted by state TV, confirming Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection by “strong” votes and calling for national unity under his leadership. The broadcast also featured footage of celebrations taking place in parts of Tehran.
This marks only the second transition of supreme leadership since the Islamic Revolution nearly fifty years ago.
A secretive figure, the 56-year-old Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran’s theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also has authority over a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon, if he chooses to decree it.
The selection of Khamenei faces the likelihood of U.S. criticism. “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” U.S. President Donald Trump has said. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the conflict is over; a new leader “is not going to last long” without his approval.
But Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah shared a portrait of the younger Khamenei on Telegram with the caption, “Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution.”
Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to state TV, praised the Assembly of Experts for “courageously” convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He added that the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and “can handle this situation.”
Regional anger grows and oil rises above $100 a barrel
The war’s toll on civilian targets grew as Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant vital to drinking water supplies, and oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes.
As the war impedes the region’s oil production and shipping, crude prices have surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years. Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a sign of rising regional anger, the Arab League chief lashed out at Iran for its “reckless policy” of attacking neighbors, including ones that host U.S. forces. Gulf countries have been struck by hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict started on Feb. 28.
Saudi Arabia reported its first deaths, saying a military projectile fell onto a residential area and killed two people of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality. Foreign residents and workers have made up most of the war’s deaths in Gulf nations.
Two US officials say the State Department will order nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran escalates its retaliation for U.S.-Israel military operations. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement, said the “ordered departure” status would be announced on Sunday.
Eight other U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East and South Asia already have ordered all but key staff to leave, called “ordered departure status.” That designation is in place in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Israel reported its first soldier deaths, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where its military is fighting Hezbollah. The U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed.
The conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials.
Desalination and oil facilities attacked
Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported additional Iranian missiles launched toward them.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged neighboring states not to take part in U.S. and Israeli attacks. The U.S. strikes have not come from Gulf Arab governments but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region.
Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.
Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travelers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.
The strike came after Iran said a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages.
He warned that in doing so “the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.”
In response, CENTCOM spokesperson U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said that “U.S. forces do not target civilians – period.”
Iranian authorities also said Israel’s overnight strikes on four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal killed four people. Witnesses in Tehran said the smoke was so thick that it looked as if the sun had not risen.
Israel’s military said the oil depots were used by Iran’s military for fuel to launch missiles.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain. It also said about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities.
Lebanon says a half-million people displaced
Lebanon said over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
The actual number is likely higher. Lebanon’s count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the government’s online portal. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate.
Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said 83 children and 82 women have been among those killed.
In Beirut, sheltering families crammed into schools, slept in cars or in open areas near the Mediterranean Sea, where some burned firewood to keep warm.
Israel’s renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the Iran war’s opening days.
Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Chehayeb from Beirut and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting.
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