On the tenth day of the war with the US and Israel, Iran's Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new supreme leader. Hours later, Iran fired missiles at Israel—the first under the new leadership—prompting further escalations, international reactions, and soaring oil prices.
The conflict in the Middle East, which began February 28, 2026, with US and Israeli strikes killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reached its tenth day with the Assembly of Experts' appointment of his son, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, as supreme leader. The 88-member body announced the decision via state TV IRIB, as reported by AP and AFP. Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with ties to the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was hailed as the 'third guide of the Islamic Republic' after Ruhollah Khomeini and his father. (See prior coverage on the succession announcement and background.)
Shortly after, Iran launched a missile barrage at Israel, with state TV displaying one inscribed 'at your orders, Seyyed Mojtaba.' In Israel, a strike in Yehud killed one person and seriously injured two, according to Magen David Adom. Sirens blared in Tel Aviv and other areas as the Israeli military intercepted many projectiles.
US President Donald Trump criticized the move, telling the New York Post, 'I'm not happy,' and warning the new leader 'wouldn't last long' without US approval. Iran's IRGC retorted via Fars news agency: 'We will determine the end of the war,' claiming stronger armaments. Russian President Vladimir Putin offered 'unwavering support,' positioning Russia as a 'reliable partner.'
Hezbollah declared loyalty to Khamenei and struck Israeli positions in southern Lebanon with drones and rockets. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut and targets in Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran. Oil prices topped $100 per barrel—the highest since 2022—amid Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
France deployed eight frigates and an aircraft carrier to reopen the strait, while NATO downed an Iranian missile over Turkish airspace. The G7 signaled willingness to tap strategic oil reserves if necessary.
