Iran's Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic's next Supreme Leader on Monday, according to reports. The selection occurred under the shadow of war, which is now in its second week, reports indicate. Mojtaba Khamenei is a hard-line cleric and son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike at the outset of the war, according to reports.
Reports describe Mojtaba Khamenei as secretive and having close ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Huge crowds reportedly took to the streets of Tehran to hail their new ruler, with supporters waving flags and crying 'Allahu Akbar, Khamenei Rahbar', according to reports. The Islamic Republic's military has vowed to strike oil sites in the region in response to any US-Israeli attacks, according to statements.
The Revolutionary Guard has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, reports indicate. Iran has targeted Israel and US bases in the region since the war erupted and has also been launching missiles and drones at energy infrastructure and desalination plants, according to sources. On Monday, a blaze broke out at an oil facility attacked in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, according to reports.
Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted several drones attacking its Shaybah oil field. Bahrain's only oil refinery was apparently hit, reports state. Besides targeting energy facilities in the UAE, Iran on Monday also attacked Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, according to reports.
In Bahrain, Iran hit a residential area wounding 32 people, including several children, reports state. Israel claimed strikes on targets in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Israel said it had hit command centres for the Revolutionary Guard and its volunteer Basij force, a rocket engine production facility, and missile launch sites in Isfahan.