Iranian state TV says Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late supreme leader, has been named his successor

"Iranian state TV announced Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the country's late supreme leader, has been named his successor. The younger Khamenei had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position."

"Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and now Khamenei will have the central say in war strategy. The announcement came on the ninth day of the war and after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision by the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects Iran's supreme leader."

"The war 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. Gulf countries have been struck by hundreds of missiles and drones since the war started on Feb. 28, and Iran's president has vowed to expand attacks."

Mojtaba Khamenei has been announced as Iran's new supreme leader following his father's death in an Israeli strike. Despite never holding an elected or appointed government position, he was long considered a successor candidate. The announcement came on the ninth day of war after the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body responsible for selecting Iran's supreme leader, made the decision. As supreme leader, Khamenei now controls the powerful Revolutionary Guard and central war strategy. The conflict has escalated regionally, with strikes on civilian infrastructure including desalination plants and oil depots. Gulf nations have faced hundreds of missiles and drones, resulting in casualties among foreign workers. Israel reported its first soldier deaths in southern Lebanon fighting Hezbollah.

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