Trump Issues Ultimatum as Iran Appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as New Supreme Leader

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Iran’s newly appointed leadership will face immediate instability without Washington’s endorsement.

This warning comes as Tehran’s Assembly of Experts officially selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to succeed his father.

The transition follows the elder Khamenei’s death in joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes nine days ago, an event that has drastically escalated regional hostilities. President Trump dismissed the younger Khamenei as a “lightweight” and insisted that any successor must meet U.S. approval to maintain power.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the remarks as foreign interference, asserting that the leadership transition is a strictly domestic affair.

While Tehran calls for regional solidarity, Israel has intensified its military pressure, launching fresh airstrikes against fuel storage facilities in and around the capital.

These attacks have caused significant disruption to fuel supplies and left a toxic haze over Tehran, with local authorities advising millions of residents to remain indoors for safety.

As the conflict enters its second week, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed the capability to sustain a prolonged campaign of drone and missile strikes. Meanwhile, Israel’s military continues to expand its targets, recently striking a hotel in central Beirut allegedly housing Iranian commanders.

With both sides signaling a readiness for further confrontation, the international community remains on high alert regarding the potential for a total regional war.