In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Israel has issued a warning targeting anyone involved in selecting a successor to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This announcement followed reports that Iran’s clerical body responsible for appointing the new leader reached a decision over the weekend.
The warning was disseminated by the Israeli military through a social media post in Farsi on platform X. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated,
“We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you. This is a warning!”
Khamenei’s rule, which lasted nearly 37 years, came to an abrupt end when he was killed during a bombing raid last week, an operation jointly executed by the U.S. and Israel targeting his compound in Tehran. Israel has defended its actions as a preemptive measure for its own security. U.S. President Donald Trump echoed this sentiment, stating that the ultimate goal is “unconditional surrender” from the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s search for Khamenei’s successor continues
Despite the ongoing military strikes, Iran remains active in its search for Khamenei’s replacement. According to reports from Iran’s Mehr news agency on Sunday, the Assembly of Experts, which is tasked with the selection of the next leader, has completed its voting process, although the name of the successor has yet to be revealed.
Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly, indicated that the decision had been made, stating,
“The vote to appoint the leader has taken place and the leader has been chosen.”
The announcement of the new leader will be handled by Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, who oversees the assembly’s secretariat. Notably, criteria for the new leader include being someone who is “hated by the enemy,” according to a report from Reuters.
Continuing conflict in the Persian Gulf region
The Assembly of Experts’ vote coincides with an intensifying military conflict that has expanded beyond Iran’s borders, as Tehran has launched drone and missile attacks against U.S. and Israeli military positions throughout the Middle East. Notably, reports emerged on Sunday of attacks on fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport and damage to a desalination plant in Bahrain.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian expressed regret to neighboring countries for the strikes on their territories, where U.S. military bases are situated. Shortly thereafter, Iran’s judiciary chief declared that military actions would persist against Gulf nations perceived as aiding the enemy.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait have all reported incidents of attacks. In response to these developments, President Trump used his platform, Truth Social, to claim credit for Pezeshkian’s apology, asserting that “Iran will be hit very hard!”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi countered Trump’s comments, warning that if escalation is pursued, it would be met with force, stating,
“If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our powerful armed forces have long prepared for, and what he will get.”
Araghchi also emphasized that any intensification of Iran’s defensive actions would be the responsibility of the U.S. Administration.