Mojtaba Khamenei has assumed the role of Iran’s new Supreme Leader amid a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Iran’s president, parliament speaker, foreign minister, and all major political and military institutions have expressed strong support for him. However, he faces a series of serious challenges as he takes office.

According to Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Tohid Asadi, the new leader inherits a crippled economy weakened by years of international sanctions and internal mismanagement. Domestically, he must also contend with social divisions and opposition groups. Following his appointment, supporters gathered in several parts of Tehran, including the politically significant Enqelab Square, where some were attacked.

Asadi described Iran as a polarized society, noting that widespread protests erupted in late December over economic issues that later expanded to include political and social demands. It remains uncertain whether the new Supreme Leader will bring change or effectively address these complex challenges.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects the country’s highest religious authority. The announcement was broadcast on Iran’s state media on Monday night, Bangladesh time, with the assembly urging citizens to support the new leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials. Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly survived because he was not in Tehran during the attack, though his exact location remains unknown. Reuters cited two Iranian sources confirming his survival.

Mojtaba Khamenei, known for his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has long held influence in Iran’s religious and political circles. His appointment signals continuity in Iran’s leadership amid heightened regional tensions.

The Israeli military announced that it carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran’s central region targeting what it described as the country’s ‘regime infrastructure’. The attacks took place on Monday and mark the first such Israeli operation since Iran appointed a new supreme leader, according to a report by AFP.

In a brief statement, the Israeli army confirmed that it had initiated fresh air operations inside Iran while simultaneously conducting strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The military did not provide further details about the scale or specific targets of the attacks.

The report did not include information on casualties or damage, and no immediate response from Iranian authorities was mentioned.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. According to Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Trump told him he was “not happy” about Mojtaba’s appointment. However, Trump has not yet made any public statement on the matter.

Earlier, in an interview with ABC News, Trump said that Iran’s new Supreme Leader would not last long without his approval. He stated that the leader “must get approval from us,” otherwise he would not remain in power for long.

Before Mojtaba Khamenei’s name was announced, Ayatollah Mohsen Heydari Alekasir, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, said that the country’s top leader should be someone “whom enemies hate, not praise.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with the country’s armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have declared allegiance to the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The announcement was made through a statement published by state media on March 9, 2026. The military described Khamenei as just, wise, devout, and prudent, while the Assembly of Experts was praised for its intelligence in selecting him.

The IRGC congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei and formally recognized him as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, pledging to follow and implement all his directives. In addition to the IRGC, Iran’s president, parliament speaker, Basij paramilitary force, Supreme National Security Council, police, and the defense and intelligence ministries all expressed full support for the appointment.

The unified declarations from Iran’s political and security institutions indicate a consolidated endorsement of Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership across the state apparatus, as reported by Press TV and Al Jazeera.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that his country will not surrender, rejecting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assumption that Iran would do so after a few days of fighting. Speaking on March 9, 2026, Ghalibaf warned that any Gulf country allowing its bases to be used for attacks on Tehran would face retaliatory action. He emphasized that the Iranian nation would fight and struggle rather than submit.

Ghalibaf reiterated the statement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson, asserting that Iran would retaliate without hesitation if attacks on its infrastructure continued. His remarks came amid reports of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s governance infrastructure and renewed Iranian attacks on Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The comments reflect heightened regional tensions and signal Iran’s readiness to respond militarily to perceived threats, underscoring the fragile security situation in the Gulf region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader will not remain in power for long without his approval. Speaking to ABC News, Trump stated that the new leader must seek authorization from the United States, otherwise his leadership will not endure.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader. The decision was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects the supreme leader. The assembly also called on citizens to support the new leader following the announcement.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials, according to Iranian state media reports.

Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, a move analysts interpret as both a signal of continuity within the country’s religious leadership and a message of defiance toward the United States and Israel. The appointment was reported on March 9, 2026, with observers noting that the decision underscores Iran’s intent to maintain its existing ideological and political direction.

Rami Khouri, a political analyst at the American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera that the selection represents a challenge to Washington and Tel Aviv, suggesting Iran’s leadership is asserting resilience against external pressure. He described Mojtaba as potentially even more hardline than his late father, reinforcing the image of steadfastness within Iran’s ruling structure.

Analysts further noted that Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation reflects the entrenched power of Iran’s religious and political establishment. The long-term consequences of this leadership transition remain to be seen.

The Trump administration is spending about $1 billion per day in the ongoing war with Iran, according to US congressional sources cited by journalist Nancy Youssef. In the first nine days of fighting, more than 1,750 people have been killed across Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues, total US expenditures could exceed $200 billion. The Pentagon has already spent $630 million on pre-war deployments, and projections suggest costs could reach $215 billion if the war lasts until September.

The conflict has triggered widespread regional escalation. Iran has launched missile strikes on Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, while Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 394 people, including 83 children, and displaced over half a million. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims it can sustain the current intensity of fighting for six months. Meanwhile, Iran’s new Supreme Leader has been selected following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, though his name has not yet been announced.

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s new leader would not survive long without his approval, while Israel threatened to target whoever assumes the role. Iran’s leadership has vowed to resist and continue the war, calling for national unity and defense of its territory.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 religious figures responsible for selecting the country’s highest authority. The announcement was broadcast by Iran’s state media on Monday night, Bangladesh time, and the Assembly called for public support for the new leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israel attack that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials. According to Al Jazeera, Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, has never held a government position or contested an election but has long been influential in Iran’s internal politics and maintains close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated two days earlier that Mojtaba’s appointment would be unacceptable to Washington, insisting on U.S. involvement in Iran’s leadership selection. The Assembly of Experts, however, proceeded with the appointment, making Mojtaba Khamenei the third Supreme Leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying four radar units connected to the United States’ THAAD anti-missile defense system within the past 24 hours, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Iranian state news agency IRNA stated that the radars were struck using precision-guided missiles during an operation targeting U.S. missile defense infrastructure.

The THAAD system is a key component of the U.S. missile defense network, designed to detect and intercept ballistic missiles in midair. The IRGC described the strikes as part of an ongoing military campaign, though no further operational details were provided in the report.

The report did not specify the location of the attack or provide independent verification of the IRGC’s claim.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that military cooperation between Iran and Russia remains ongoing and is not a new development. In an interview with NBC, he described the relationship as a long-standing strategic partnership, emphasizing that it has existed for many years and continues to this day.

When asked whether Iran is receiving assistance from Russia, Araghchi said the two countries have maintained military ties for a long time. He added that while he does not have detailed military information about whether Russia is helping Iran identify U.S. targets, the relationship between the two nations is very strong.

Araghchi reiterated that the cooperation is not secret and will continue into the future, underscoring the enduring nature of Iran-Russia strategic relations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran’s attacks on US targets in the Middle East are a response to what he described as a war imposed on Iran. In an interview with NBC, he said Iran did not choose the conflict and is acting in self-defense, according to Al Jazeera.

Araghchi characterized the ongoing conflict as unprepared, irrational, and illegal, asserting that it was forced upon Iran by the United States and Israel. He explained that Iran’s retaliatory military actions have targeted US bases, installations, and assets in the region, even when those are located within neighboring countries’ territories.

The report also mentioned related developments in the region, including casualties in Saudi Arabia and statements from Oman condemning attacks on Iran as unethical and illegal.

Iran has declared that it will not accept any foreign interference in the process of selecting its new Supreme Leader. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi stated that the decision is entirely an internal matter for Iran. Speaking to NBC, Aragchi confirmed that the Assembly of Experts will be responsible for choosing the next Supreme Leader and that the process will take place soon.

He emphasized that Iran’s political institutions, including the presidency, cabinet, and parliament, continue to function normally. Aragchi also responded to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating that Iran will not tolerate any external involvement in its domestic affairs.

Aragchi stressed that the selection of a new leader is solely the concern of the Iranian people and not of any other country.

China has issued a warning against any attempt to change Iran’s government amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of an annual meeting in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that any plan for a “color revolution” or regime change in Iran would not gain public support. He called for an immediate end to military operations in the Middle East to prevent further escalation and regional spillover.

Wang emphasized respect for the sovereignty of all nations, stating that force cannot provide solutions and that armed conflict only fuels hatred and new crises. He urged all parties to return to dialogue to resolve differences and ensure collective security. China, he said, is ready to work with regional countries to restore order and peace in the Middle East.

According to a classified US National Intelligence Council report cited by The Washington Post, large-scale US military strikes are unlikely to topple Iran’s political or religious power structure, undermining claims by President Donald Trump that he could replace Iran’s leadership with his preferred successor.