Iran launched missile attacks toward Israel and several Gulf countries early Monday, hours after Iranian clerics named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
The escalation comes nine days after joint strikes by the United States and Israel killed Ali Khamenei, triggering a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Iranian state television announced the appointment of the 56-year-old cleric, saying the decision was made by the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts.
“Khamenei is appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts,” the statement said.
It added that the clerical body “did not hesitate for a minute” in selecting a new leader despite what it described as “the brutal aggression of the criminal America and the evil Zionist regime.”
Soon after the announcement, Iranian state media broadcast footage of a projectile reportedly launched toward Israel carrying the slogan: “At Your Command, Sayyid Mojtaba.”
Israel responded with a fresh round of strikes targeting infrastructure in central Iran as the conflict widened across the region.
Several Gulf states also reported attacks. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones headed for an eastern oil facility, while authorities in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported missile incidents. Bahrain activated warning sirens as part of emergency response measures.
The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei drew immediate reaction from the United States. US President Donald Trump had earlier dismissed the cleric as a “lightweight,” saying the United States should have a say in Iran’s leadership.
“If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long,” Trump told ABC News before the announcement.
Israel has also warned that Iran’s new leader could become a military target. Israeli Defence officials previously stated that any successor to the late Khamenei could face similar action.
Meanwhile, global oil prices surged amid fears of supply disruptions. The benchmark price of crude rose above $100 per barrel for the first time since the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the spike, Trump described the increase as “a small price to pay” for eliminating what he called the threat of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The conflict has also expanded to Lebanon, where Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it was engaging Israeli forces after helicopters landed troops in eastern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported “fierce clashes” around the town of Nabi Sheet, where an Israeli operation over the weekend reportedly killed dozens.
Casualties continue to mount across the region. Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed at least 394 people since the war began, while Iran’s health ministry reports more than 1,200 civilians dead and about 10,000 wounded — figures that have not been independently verified.
In Israel, authorities say Iranian missile strikes have killed at least 10 people, while two Israeli soldiers were reported killed during fighting in Lebanon.
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