Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was killed on February 28 in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

The decision was made by a vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic clerics tasked with choosing the new supreme leader.

“The Assembly of Experts, with an overwhelming majority of votes, introduced Ayatollah Haj Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Tehran Times reported.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

Ali Khamenei was assassinated along with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild in the February 28 strike. Khamenei’s wife died from her injuries days later. 

The United States military has confirmed that a service member has died from injuries sustained in Iranian strikes, bringing the death toll in the U.S. military to 7.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1.

“This is the seventh service member killed in action during Operation Epic Fury. Major combat operations continue. The identity of the fallen warrior will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

CENTCOM said in a separate post that a U.S. National Guard soldier died in a health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency. “The exact cause of death is under review,” CENTCOM said.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

Iran has reported over 1,300 deaths. More than 10 people have been killed in Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “not happy” with the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, according to remarks reported by Fox News.

Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade said that the U.S. President has told him “I am not happy” when asked about the new supreme leader. 

Mojtaba Khamenei’s election as Iran’s new supreme leader came after Trump insisted that he should have a say in the new leader’s appointment. 

Hours earlier, Trump told ABC News that the next leader of Iran won’t “last long” if he doesn’t have approval from the White House.

Trump declined to comment to The Times of Israel on Mojtaba’s election, saying: “We’ll see what happens.”

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was assassinated on February 28 in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

The decision was made by a vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic clerics tasked with choosing the new supreme leader.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s Supreme Leader.

“I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. I am confident that the strong ties between Armenia and Iran will continue to develop and achieve new successes. Taking this opportunity, I wish the friendly people of Iran well-being and lasting peace,” Pashinyan said in the letter published by his office.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the Kremlin reported.

“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Putin said in a letter addressed to Mojtaba Khamenei.

“At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials. For my part, I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. I wish you success in solving the difficult tasks facing you, as well as good health and strength of spirit,” the Russian president said in the letter published by the Kremlin.

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was assassinated on February 28 in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

Mojtaba Khamenei was elected by a vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic clerics tasked with choosing the new supreme leader.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that a diplomatic solution is “more necessary than ever” to put an end to the Middle East escalation and preserve peace.

Macron said he spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“I stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region. Iran must also guarantee freedom of navigation by ending the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” the French President said. 

“I reiterated our deep concern regarding the development of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and all of its destabilizing activities in the region, which are at the root of the current crisis. A diplomatic solution is more necessary than ever to address these crucial challenges, end the escalation and preserve peace. We agreed to stay in touch,” Macron added in a post on X.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has again denied any Iranian involvement in the drone strikes targeting Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave last week.

Pezeshkian spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on March 8, according to the Azerbaijani Presidential Office.

Aliyev’s office said in a readout that the Iranian president stated the strike in Nakhchivan “has nothing to do with Iran” and said the incident should be investigated.

Aliyev also called for an investigation.

The March 5 drone strikes hit near Nakhchivan Airport and a local school, wounding four people. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of carrying out the strike, but Tehran denied involvement and suggested it could have been a false-flag operation involving Israel.

Iran denied on Monday that its military launched drones or missiles toward Azerbaijan, Türkiye or Cyprus last week.

Al Jazeera quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying that “no offensives were initiated from Iranian territory” against these countries.

He also suggested some of the reported attacks may have been “staged”, saying “we have warned repeatedly that the enemy may stage certain attacks to drive a wedge between us and other countries.”

A British military base in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike on March 2, prompting several European nations to dispatch warships to protect the island. Days later, NATO air defenses intercepted what the alliance described as an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Türkiye. On March 5, drone strikes hit near the airport and a local school in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave. Iran denied launching the drones, indicating that it could have been an Israeli false-flag operation.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

At least three civilians were killed and another 15 wounded in renewed Israeli strikes targeting Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

The casualties were reported in Tayr Debba, a municipality in the Tyre District in the South Governorate.

Rescuers are still searching the rubble for potential survivors.

According to the news agency, the Israeli military also targeted several southern parts of Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

Hezbollah, in turn, said it had hit Israeli forces stationed in Al-Aadaissah and those advancing towards Aitaroun. 

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a preemptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. Israeli strikes in Lebanon began amid the operations.

According to Lebanese authorities, 394 people have been killed and 1,130 wounded in the Israeli strikes.