Tehran, 09 March (H.S.): In a stark signal of continuity amid unprecedented turmoil, senior Iranian clerics have hinted that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stands ready to assume the role of Supreme Leader, as the clerical council prepares an imminent announcement.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who perished on February 28 in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on his Tehran compound during the opening salvos of Operation Epic Fury, left Iran reeling from a leadership vacuum exacerbated by escalating hostilities.
The Assembly of Experts, tasked with selecting his successor, convened urgently under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with members like Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari declaring, The name of Khamenei will continue, and confirming a vote has been cast.
Escalation Ignites Tehran Skies
Overnight Israeli strikes pummeled three major oil depots and storage facilities in and around Tehran, sending plumes of black smoke and orange flames skyward, visible across the capital and disrupting Iran's war machine.
Israeli officials justified the assault, asserting the sites fueled ballistic missile production, while Iran's Foreign Ministry decried it as a war crime releasing toxic substances into the air.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed relentless pressure to destabilize the regime, as global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel.
Gulf States Reels Under Iranian Retaliation
Iran's response rippled across the Gulf, with drone and missile barrages targeting U.S. allies including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Bahrain reported material damage to a key desalination plant—its first such strike—though water supplies held; Kuwait mourned two slain officers amid fires at government sites; and the UAE intercepted 16 missiles and 113 drones, with four migrant workers killed.
Saudi Arabia tallied two dead and 12 wounded in Al-Kharj, issuing warnings of retaliation if energy assets are hit further.
Mounting Human Toll and Global Stakes
Casualties mount daily: Iran reports 1,332 civilian deaths from U.S.-Israeli strikes, including tragic hits on schools; Israel counts 10-11 slain by Iranian missiles; six U.S. troops have fallen; and Gulf states add at least 11 more.
Hezbollah's involvement has drawn Lebanon into the fray, with Israel striking Beirut targets.U.S. President Donald Trump, rejecting negotiations, asserted Washington's veto power over Iran's choice: If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long.
Amid fears of nuclear site incursions and broader regional chaos, the conflict—now in its tenth day—threatens to redraw Middle East fault lines.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
