Mojtaba Khamenei named supreme leader: In a defiant midnight announcement, the Assembly of Experts officially appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader. Despite US and Israeli threats to target the proceedings, the 88-cleric body confirmed the late leader’s son now holds the final say in all matters of state.

CENTCOM “stay home” directive: In a rare direct address to the Iranian public, US Central Command issued a “stay home” warning, advising civilians to avoid government buildings, military sites, and IRGC-linked infrastructure. The directive signaled a shift toward even more aggressive targeting and fueled domestic panic within major Iranian cities.

Trump rejects diplomacy: Speaking from Air Force One, President Donald Trump officially rejected calls for an “off-ramp”, stating he has no interest in negotiations with Tehran. He asserted that the campaign would continue until Iran’s military capacity is destroyed and the regime faces “unconditional surrender”.

Targeting infrastructure: A “dangerous new phase” of the air campaign began as US and Israeli strikes shifted focus toward Iranian energy and economic hubs. Major oil storage facilities in Tehran were struck, sending massive plumes of black smoke over the capital that remained visible throughout the day.

Third carrier deployment: The Pentagon confirmed that a third US aircraft carrier is en route to the region. This deployment supports the “extensive strikes” currently being carried out under Operation Epic Fury, signaling a long-term military commitment.

Regional humanitarian crisis: The UN has designated the situation a “tragedy of enormous proportions”. Verified figures now confirm that over 500,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon alone, with nearly 400 confirmed dead there, while over 100,000 residents have fled Tehran.

“Gamified” warfare criticism: Pope Leo XIV and other religious leaders issued a sharp moral rebuke of the conflict’s presentation. They specifically condemned the “spectacle” of the war, citing the administration’s use of social media montages that pair real-time strike footage with cinematic music.

Escalation in central Beirut: In a major tactical shift, an Israeli strike hit the heart of central Beirut near the Ramada hotel. The IDF warned it will continue to target anyone attempting to convene the Assembly of Experts to appoint a successor to the late supreme leader.

Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old US-Israeli war on Iran sparked a surge in oil prices.

Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran’s security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead up to Sunday’s vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei’s successor.

“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time.

The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mojtaba’s appointment will likely draw the ire of US President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that Washington should have a say in the selection. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long,” he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatened to target whoever was chosen.

Mojtaba’s father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago.

The US military on Sunday reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial counter-attack a week ago, a day after Trump presided over the return to the United States of the remains of the six others killed.

The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran’s U.N. ambassador.

The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade, with damage to facilities, disrupted logistics and elevated risks to shipping.

US crude futures rose more than 20% in early trade on Monday, hitting highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visits Hezbollah’s office in Tehran, Iran, Oct 1, 2024. REUTERS

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visits Hezbollah’s office in Tehran, Iran, Oct 1, 2024. REUTERS

Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran’s armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader.

The Assembly of Experts met on Sunday to elect a new supreme leader despite threats that the body would be targeted, Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, said on state TV after the announcement.

Mojtaba Khamenei could lead the country under the current sensitive conditions, Larijani said, calling for unity around the new leader.

The announcement came after Tehran signaled defiance, despite Trump’s call for an “unconditional surrender.” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, said earlier that Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire to the war and would punish aggressors.

Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike.

As fighting escalated on Sunday, the ninth day nine of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame.