Iran launched a series of missiles towards Israel and several Gulf states early Monday shortly after authorities confirmed the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, succeeding his late father, Ali Khamenei.
The development followed the killing of the elder Khamenei during recent strikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel, an incident that has significantly escalated tensions across the Middle East.
Iranian clerics announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the third supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to a declaration broadcast on state television.
The statement, issued by the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts, said the 56-year-old cleric was chosen through a decisive vote of its 88 members.
Officials said the body moved swiftly to appoint a successor despite what it described as hostile actions from the United States and Israel.
Shortly after the announcement, Iranian state media aired footage of a projectile reportedly fired toward Israel bearing a message pledging loyalty to the newly appointed leader.
In response, Israeli forces launched another round of attacks targeting key infrastructure in central Iran, further intensifying the growing conflict.
The escalation unsettled global financial markets, pushing stock prices downward while crude oil prices surged by about 30 per cent amid fears that the fighting could disrupt global energy supplies.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia said their air defence system intercepted drones heading toward an oil installation in the kingdom’s eastern region.
Missile alerts were also reported in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, while sirens were activated in Bahrain following reported aerial attacks.
The crisis unfolded weeks after Iranian security forces suppressed widespread anti-government protests across the country.
Observers believed Mojtaba Khamenei, regarded as a hardliner, is likely to maintain the strict policies associated with his father’s leadership.
Before the leadership announcement, former US President Donald Trump had criticised Mojtaba Khamenei, describing him as politically weak and suggesting Washington should have a role in determining Iran’s next leader.
Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Trump warned that the new leader might struggle to remain in power without international acceptance.
Israeli officials had also earlier indicated that whoever succeeded the late supreme leader could become a target in the ongoing conflict.
The rising tensions drove global oil prices beyond $100 per barrel for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as concerns grew over possible supply disruptions from the Gulf region.
Despite the surge, Trump dismissed the development as a minor consequence compared to what he described as the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Financial markets across Asia also reacted sharply, with major economies such as Japan and South Korea experiencing declines due to their heavy dependence on imported energy.
Meanwhile, the US State Department ordered non-essential personnel to depart Saudi Arabia after a drone reportedly struck the American embassy in the country.
Trump also said decisions regarding the duration of the conflict would be made in consultation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran’s influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps quickly pledged loyalty to the new supreme leader, promising full commitment to his directives.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the leadership transition would help safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The conflict has also spilled into Lebanon, where Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it was confronting Israeli forces that allegedly entered eastern Lebanon using helicopters from across the Syrian border.
Lebanon was drawn deeper into the conflict after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel following the reported killing of Ali Khamenei.
The country’s National News Agency earlier reported heavy fighting around the town of Nabi Sheet, where an Israeli military operation over the weekend reportedly left dozens dead.
Israeli forces had also carried out an airstrike on a hotel in central Beirut, targeting commanders linked to the Revolutionary Guards’ Qods Force.
Lebanese health authorities confirmed that four people died and 10 others were injured in the Beirut strike, while the total death toll in the country since the conflict began has risen to at least 394, including several women and children.
In Bahrain, officials said 32 people were wounded following a drone strike on the island of Sitra.
Saudi authorities also reported that two people were killed and 12 injured after a projectile struck Al-Kharj Province.
Meanwhile, Iran’s health ministry said the ongoing war had resulted in at least 1,200 civilian deaths and nearly 10,000 injuries, though the figures have not been independently verified.
