US, Israel Vow To Target Mojtaba Khamenei After Iran Names Him Supreme Leader

The Assembly of Experts announced Iran's leadership succession internally after the Feb. 28 attack.

“Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war that the United States and Israel launched on Iran, has been selected as Iran’s new supreme leader, state media reports”

Al Jazeera

Senior cleric Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari said the assembly has voted and "strongly hinted that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba — a hardline cleric — is the likely successor."

Al Jazeera

The announcement was framed as coming after a Feb. 28 joint US–Israel strike that killed Khamenei and more than 1,200 people.

Officials say that context has prompted retaliatory strikes and raised fears of a wider regional war.

Hindustan Times reports that the United States and Israel have vowed to go after the new leader, and quotes President Donald Trump saying the new leader 'won't last long without his approval.'

GMA Network notes that a seventh U.S. service member has died from wounds sustained during Iran's initial counter-attack.

GMA Network

Those reports say the casualty underscores the acute security stakes cited by leaders who promise targeting.

Casualty figures and the extent of Iranian losses differ across reports, reflecting contested tallies.

“Who will be Supreme Leader”

Hindustan Times

Hindustan Times says the Feb. 28 strike killed Khamenei and "more than 1,200 people."

GMA Network cites Iran's U.N. ambassador saying U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed "at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands."

Both outlets link those strikes to ongoing Iranian reprisals, with GMA reporting that "Iran has continued launching strikes across the region in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks," creating the risk of further escalation.

Tehran’s internal response appears aimed at rapid consolidation.

GMA Network reports that state media said armed forces pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and that the IRGC said it would follow the new supreme leader.

The Christian Science Monitor

GMA Network also notes Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani said the Assembly of Experts met "to elect the leader despite threats" and urged unity.

Hindustan Times likewise reports the assembly’s vote and the strong hint toward Mojtaba, portraying a swift transfer of formal authority amid security shocks.

The elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei and the accompanying strikes have immediate economic and market effects.

“Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war that the United States and Israel launched on Iran, has been selected as Iran’s new supreme leader, state media reports”

Al Jazeera

GMA Network reports that U.S. crude jumped more than 20% in early trade to its highest since July 2022.

Al Jazeera

GMA Network reports that Brent rose 17% to $108.73 a barrel after a 28% surge last week.

GMA Network reports that Asian share futures fell and S&P and Nasdaq futures dropped about 1.6%–1.7%.

GMA Network reports that the dollar strengthened versus the euro and yen.

GMA also quotes President Trump tying oil-price shifts to the broader campaign, saying prices will fall once the "Iran nuclear threat" is eliminated.