Iran Installs Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader As War With US and Israel Enters Day 10

Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s new supreme leader on Day 10 of the conflict, with Iranian state television reporting that the 88-member Assembly of Experts appointed the 56-year-old cleric as the third leader of the Islamic Republic.

“Updated 9 March 2026 at 12:51 IST Iran’s New Supreme Leader, Rising Death Toll, Oil Shock: Where Things Stand As US-Israel-Iran War Enters Day 10 As the US-Israel-Iran War enters Day 10, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has taken over leadership, while the intensifying war sparks rising casualties, regional retaliation, and global economic turmoil”

Republic World

The announcement followed the death of his father in the strikes that helped spark the wider war, and state media emphasised the Assembly’s formal role in the succession.

Republic World

This rapid elevation places Mojtaba at the centre of Tehran’s political command as hostilities continue.

The conflict has entered its tenth day and has expanded beyond bilateral strikes into a wider regional confrontation, with Republic World saying the war began on February 28 and has now expanded across the Middle East.

Reporting emphasised rising casualties, regional retaliation and global economic consequences, framing the situation as more than isolated military exchanges.

Republic World

The outlet characterised the unfolding situation as provoking an oil shock and broader geopolitical turbulence.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s background and ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were highlighted as central to his likely role in shaping Iran’s war policy.

“Updated 9 March 2026 at 12:51 IST Iran’s New Supreme Leader, Rising Death Toll, Oil Shock: Where Things Stand As US-Israel-Iran War Enters Day 10 As the US-Israel-Iran War enters Day 10, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has taken over leadership, while the intensifying war sparks rising casualties, regional retaliation, and global economic turmoil”

Republic World

Republic World noted he had long been considered a possible successor and that he is known for close ties with the IRGC; the outlet reported the Revolutionary Guard has reportedly pledged allegiance following his appointment.

Analysts and the reporting cited in the article framed his elevation as likely to affect Tehran’s strategic posture amid ongoing hostilities.

International reactions were tentative and politically charged: the article records that US President Donald Trump declined to give a detailed reaction to the elevation, saying “We’ll see what happens,” while noting his earlier harsh personal comments describing Mojtaba as a “lightweight” and “unacceptable” candidate.

Republic World placed these diplomatic signals alongside discussion of rising casualties and an oil shock, underscoring the appointment’s immediate diplomatic and economic reverberations amid a growing regional war.

Republic World