In the wake of the U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28th, Iran has appointed his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader. The move has been met with immediate hostility from Iranian citizens, as seen in social media footage showing women chanting “Death to Mojtaba” in the streets of Tehran.
The appointment was carried out by the Assembly of Experts, the religious body tasked with selecting the Supreme Leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, previously holding no official post, is closely tied to the terrorist group, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Within hours, the IRGC pledged full loyalty to the new leader, promising complete obedience and self-sacrifice in carrying out his commands.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, the armed forces, and the judiciary also endorsed his succession.
U.S. president Donald Trump, maintaining a firm stance, warned that Iran’s next leader would not last without his approval. In an interview with ABC News, Trump called Mojtaba Khamenei a “lightweight” and emphasized that the United States expects to influence Tehran’s decisions, adding that any failure to comply would have immediate consequences.
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s next leader. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”
Israel echoed the warning, with military officials stating, “Wewe will not hesitate to target you.”
Russian president Vladimir Putin pledged “unwavering support” to Iran’s new supreme leader.
“I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends,” Putin said in a message to Khamenei, adding that “Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner” to Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran has escalated attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, hitting petroleum facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Bahrain’s Al Ma’ameer complex was severely damaged, forcing the state-owned Bapco to declare force majeure.
The strikes contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, while Asian stock markets plunged in response to the instability. Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks as “reprehensible” and reiterated its support for regional stability. China urged all parties to halt hostilities in order to prevent further escalation.
Across Europe, widespread demonstrations have highlighted the continent’s stance on Iran’s crisis. In Berlin, Stockholm, and Paris, protesters rallied in support of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah. In Paris, Masoud Ghanaatian, a 35-year-old student, told demonstrators, “I support Pahlavi who is calling for a revolution. He’s a democrat. He can oversee a transition and promises to organise elections.”
Other European protesters opposed the monarchy’s return. In Paris, demonstrators wearing yellow vests reading “Free Iran” displayed stickers on their hands saying “No Shah, No Mullah.” In London, between 5,000 and 6,000 people attended the “Hands Off Iran” march, chanting “stop the bombing now, now, now,” while holding banners reading “Peace” and “Yanks go home.” In Amsterdam, participants called on the government to invite Pahlavi to the country and close the Iranian embassy.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan foiled an IRGC terror plot targeting the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Jewish sites, and the Israeli Embassy, marking the first direct spillover of the conflict into the South Caucasus. At least ten individuals, including IRGC officers and Iranian and Azerbaijani nationals, were implicated, some already sentenced to prison. President Ilham Aliyev condemned Iran’s actions, accusing its leaders of orchestrating terror “at the highest levels of Iran’s state institutions to intimidate Azerbaijan.”
