THE CURRENT IRANIAN regime has chosen the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader. 

Its so-called assembly of experts announced the succession plan in a lengthy statement on Sunday night. 

The assembly said that it had “careful and extensive studies” in its extraordinary session today. 

“Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei (may Allah protect him) is appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts,” the statement from the ruling clerics read. 

Mojtaba Khamenei is 56 years old and the second son of the slain former supreme leader. He was the favourite to be named as the successor by the still-intact leadership. 

The clerical body said it “did not hesitate for a minute” in choosing a new leader, despite “the brutal aggression of the criminal America and the evil Zionist regime”.

US President Donald Trump has previously dismissed the younger Khamenei as a “lightweight”, and insisted again today that he should have a say in the new leader’s appointment.

“If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long,” he told ABC News before the announcement was made this evening. 

The younger Khamenei is regarded as a conservative figure, notably because of his ties with the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic’s military.

Israel’s military had previously warned any successor that “we will not hesitate to target you”.

Iran’s health ministry said Sunday that at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded – as international journalists are not allowed to operate in Iran, independent verification of these figures is difficult.

Lebanon’s health minister said at least 394 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes since Lebanon was dragged into the war a week ago, including 83 children and 42 women.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon, the military said.

No way out 

Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer.

Trump has suggested Iran’s economy could be rebuilt if a leader “acceptable” to Washington replaces the late supreme leader.

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed “that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open”.

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