Iran has a new Supreme Leader. His name is Mojtaba Khamenei — and he is the son of the man the US and Israel killed at the start of this war. Within hours of the announcement, Israel said it would target him too.
What Happened
On Day 9 of the war, Iran's Assembly of Experts met and chose a new Supreme Leader. They picked Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei — who ruled Iran for 37 years — was killed in the opening US-Israeli strikes that began the war on February 28.
The Assembly of Experts is a group of religious scholars. They have the power to pick Iran's Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader sits above the president and controls the military, the courts, and state media.
Mojtaba Khamenei was already considered a powerful figure behind the scenes. His appointment puts hardliners firmly in control of Iran as the war continues.
Status: Confirmed. Reported by AP News, Reuters, CNN, and CNBC citing Iranian state media and international correspondents.
What the IRGC Said
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement pledging full loyalty to the new Supreme Leader. The IRGC is Iran's most powerful military branch. It runs Iran's missile program, its drone forces, and its network of allied armed groups across the region.
The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah shared Mojtaba Khamenei's portrait on Telegram and called him "Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution."
What Israel Said
Israel responded fast — and with a direct threat. The Israel Defense Forces posted a warning in Farsi on X (formerly Twitter):
"We will pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor. We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you either. This is a warning!"
In plain terms: Israel is threatening to kill Iran's new Supreme Leader, and said it warned people before they even voted. The IDF also struck 50 ammunition bunkers across Tehran on Sunday, continuing its campaign against IRGC military infrastructure.
What Trump Said
US President Donald Trump had already called Mojtaba Khamenei a "lightweight" before Sunday's vote. He previously told ABC News that any new Iranian leader would need US approval. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump said. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long."
Trump has insisted that the US will have a say in Iran's future government. Iran rejected this idea entirely. Choosing Mojtaba Khamenei — against Trump's explicit wishes — was a direct challenge to that position.
The White House had not commented on the appointment as of Sunday afternoon.
Why This Matters
The Supreme Leader controls Iran's nuclear decisions, its military strategy, and whether Iran would ever agree to a peace deal. Picking a hard-line successor — rather than a moderate — signals Iran does not plan to negotiate its way out of this war.
At the same time, Israel's threat to target the new Supreme Leader raises the stakes higher. The last time the US and Israel targeted Iran's top leader, it started this war.
The Rest of Sunday's Fighting
The war did not pause while Iran chose its new leader. Here is what else happened Sunday:
- Tehran: Israel struck 50 ammunition bunkers and additional IRGC fuel storage depots. Fires from Friday's oil depot strikes were still burning Sunday morning. Thick black smoke covered the capital for a second day.
- UAE: Iran fired another round of ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE. The UAE military said most were intercepted. Earlier this week, a Pakistani driver in Dubai was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile.
- Bahrain: Iran struck a water desalination plant with drones. Bahrain's government said water supplies were not interrupted but called it "indiscriminate" targeting of civilians. Three people were injured when missile fragments hit a university building.
- Kuwait: Two fuel depots at Kuwait's international airport were hit by Iranian drones. A large fire broke out at one of them.
- Lebanon: Israel struck IRGC Quds Force commanders operating in Beirut. Displacement stands at 517,000+ people officially registered; the real number is likely higher.
War Totals — Day 9
- Iran: 1,230+ killed (includes ~200 children)
- Lebanon: 397+ killed · 517,000+ displaced
- Israel: ~13 killed (2 soldiers confirmed in Lebanon)
- US troops: 6 killed
- Oil price: ~$92/barrel
- Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of global daily oil supply still disrupted · Iraq oil production down 70%