Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early on Monday, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father's killing took a dramatic turn. There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of supreme leader since the Islamic Revolution almost a half-century ago. A secretive figure, the 56-year-old Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran's theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials. Israel's military said the oil depots were used by Iran's military for fuel to launch missiles.

Source: The Telegraph March 09, 2026 01:56 UTC