Mojtaba Khamenei named new supreme leader of Iran’s as regional attacks escalate on 10th day of war

2026-03-09 - 21:13

March 9, 2026, marked the tenth day of the escalating military conflict between the Iranian regime, the United States, and Israel. The war follows immense devastation on the ninth day, when massive airstrikes targeted fuel storage and distribution sites across Tehran and Alborz provinces, causing “black rain” to pour over the capital. While the regime continued its drone and missile assaults on neighboring Gulf nations, the regime’s Assembly of Experts officially named Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor to the regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the conflict. Meanwhile, the regime’s internet blackout enters its tenth day and oil prices have soared amid a deliberate strategy by Tehran to target regional energy facilities. Roundup of today’s key events New supreme leader named: The Assembly of Experts officially selected Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father as the Iranian regime’s supreme leader. Oil prices surge: Prices skyrocketed past $100 per barrel as the regime deliberately targeted regional oil facilities in the region. Missile intercepted in Turkey: NATO defenses intercepted a second Iranian ballistic missile in Turkish airspace, prompting the US to suspend consulate services in southern Turkey. US casualty and ground troop considerations: The Pentagon identified a seventh US service member killed in the conflict, while President Donald Trump weighs deploying ground troops. Widespread strikes on regime assets: Military strikes completely destroyed a provincial police headquarters in Hamadan and damaged the Isfahan missile complex, while the death toll in Iran reportedly surpassed 1,200. Internet blackout: A state-imposed internet shutdown entered its tenth day, cutting off 90 million Iranians from the global web. Mojtaba Khamenei named new supreme leader amid internal pledges and international dismissal State media announced that the regime’s Assembly of Experts has named Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new supreme leader. Top regime figures quickly scrambled to pledge their allegiance. Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei called on the nation to swear allegiance, while Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani and Ali Asghar Hejazi praised the choice as a “new turning point.” Sadeq Larijani, head of the Expediency Discernment Council, stated the selection was made despite “threats from sworn enemies.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regime’s terrorist proxy Hezbollah formally declared their complete obedience to Mojtaba Khamenei. However, the appointment was immediately dismissed internationally. US President Donald Trump called the move “unacceptable,” referring to Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and noting that he is not bound to “last long.” Meanwhile, the regime’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected any calls for a ceasefire, insisting the regime will “continue fighting.” Mocking the US mission, he called it “Operation Epic Mistake” and promised that the regime has “many surprises in store.” Regime targets regional oil infrastructure as global prices soar Global oil prices surged by more than 25% on Monday, March 9, passing $100 per barrel and reaching their highest levels since mid-2022. According to Arab officials, Tehran has unleashed a heavy barrage of missiles and drones directed at oil facilities across the region. This is part of a deliberate strategy to drive up oil prices and create pressure for a ceasefire following Israel’s devastating strikes on Iranian oil depots over the weekend. US President Donald Trump dismissed the spike in prices as “short term.” In response to the regime’s regional aggression, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning, stating that Iran’s regime will be the “biggest loser” if it continues its “criminal” attacks. The ministry condemned the regime’s targeting of civilian airports and oil facilities as a blatant violation of international law. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense detailed the sheer scale of the regime’s assaults, announcing that over 1,400 drones have been launched at the Emirates, resulting in civilian deaths. In the past week alone, the UAE detected 1,422 drones (with 80 penetrating defenses), intercepted 8 cruise missiles, and tracked 238 ballistic missiles, of which two hit their targets and 15 fell into the sea. Reacting to the deteriorating security situation, senior regime official Ali Larijani stated that it is highly unlikely that any security will be established in the Strait of Hormuz given the ongoing war. Missile intercepted in Turkey, flights suspended, and clashes escalate in Lebanon The regional fallout of the conflict continues to spread. Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced that NATO air defenses intercepted an Iranian regime ballistic missile in the eastern Mediterranean, with debris falling on vacant land in Gaziantep. This marks the second time an Iranian missile has entered Turkish airspace since the war began. Due to “safety risks,” the US State Department ordered non-emergency government employees to leave the US consulate in Adana, southern Turkey, and suspended all consular services there. Meanwhile, Lufthansa Airlines extended its suspension of flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Amman, and Erbil for another week. In Lebanon, the multi-front war escalated sharply on Monday. The regime-backed Hezbollah militant group reported intense clashes with Israeli forces who landed via 15 helicopters from the Syrian border into eastern Lebanon. Heavy fighting was reported in the Beqaa region and Nabi Chit, while an explosion rocked Hezbollah’s main stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Casualties mount as military strikes decimate regime sites and internet blackout continues The human toll of the conflict continues to rise. The Pentagon identified the seventh US service member killed from injuries sustained in an attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Amid the rising casualties, President Trump continues to weigh whether to send ground troops into the Middle East. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the military is “getting the job done,” noting that the ongoing missions are systematically destroying the regime’s missiles, launchers, factories, and its navy. Rubio emphasized that the regime in Iran is “trying to hold the world hostage.” Inside Iran, military strikes continue to lay waste to regime infrastructure. Video footage published today showed the complete destruction of the provincial police command headquarters in Hamadan following US and Israeli strikes. Additionally, satellite imagery revealed significant damage to tunnel entrances at the Isfahan missile complex. According to the regime’s Red Crescent Society, the death toll in Iran has reached at least 1,230 since the joint military operations began. As the war ravages the country, the Iranian regime continues to suppress its population. According to the cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks, Iran’s severe internet blackout has now entered its tenth day, with connectivity flatlining at just 1% of ordinary levels. The state-imposed shutdown has effectively silenced 90 million Iranians, cutting them off from the rest of the world as hostilities intensify.