Iran War Day 9: Son of Dead Supreme Leader Named as Successor as Trump Says Choice is Unacceptable

Day nine of Operation Epic Fury and Iran made the most consequential decision of the entire conflict so far. The Assembly of Experts, under direct pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. He is fifty-six years old. He has never held elected office. He has never given a press conference. And he is the son of the man killed by American and Israeli bombs nine days ago. For the first time in its forty-seven year history, the Islamic Republic has produced a dynastic succession. The revolution that overthrew a monarchy has become one.

Donald Trump has already said Mojtaba Khamenei is unacceptable. Iran's Foreign Minister appeared on American television and said nobody knows who the new Supreme Leader will be, on the same morning Assembly members were telling state media a decision had been made. Iran's President personally apologised to neighbouring countries for Iranian strikes, then his office said the remarks had been misinterpreted. Iran launched its twenty-seventh wave of strikes. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in Lebanon, the first Israeli military deaths of the conflict. Human Rights Watch formally called the Minab school airstrike a potential war crime. Amazon Web Services data centres in Bahrain and the UAE were struck by Iranian drones. A water desalination plant in Bahrain was hit. Russia confirmed providing intelligence to Iran on American warship locations. And Trump attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base of the six Americans killed in this war, standing in silence as six flag-draped caskets were carried off a transport aircraft.

Day nine. The new Supreme Leader of Iran is the son of the man America killed. And this war has no end in sight.

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