Overview
- Iran’s 88-member Assembly of Experts named the 56-year-old cleric as the country’s third supreme leader shortly after midnight Monday.
- The Kremlin congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei and pledged “unwavering support,” calling Russia a “reliable partner” as Iran confronts what Moscow termed armed aggression.
- U.S. media reports, citing anonymous officials, say Russia has provided Iran with real-time intelligence on U.S. military assets, a claim not independently verified.
- Iran’s foreign minister rejected any foreign role in the succession, warned that U.S. bases in the region may become targets, and said military cooperation with Russia will continue.
- The fighting has entered a tenth day with ongoing strikes and Israeli threats to target any successor; separate reports that Mojtaba was wounded remain unconfirmed.