US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning about Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, saying the clerical son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not last long if Tehran failed to seek American approval. The remarks came as Iran’s Assembly of Experts confirmed Mojtaba’s appointment on Sunday. When later asked by Israeli media for a reaction, Trump said only ‘We’ll see what happens,’ a phrase that left observers guessing about Washington’s next move.
Mojtaba Khamenei has no background in elected governance and has spent his life in the shadow of his father’s authority. He studied theology in Qom and gained influence by managing the supreme leader’s inner circle and developing robust ties with the IRGC. Now at 56, he inherits supreme authority over a country at war with Israel, under American threat, and facing mounting economic pressure from oil market disruptions.
Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure on Monday, shortly after Mojtaba’s appointment was formalized. The Israeli military confirmed strikes on what it called regime infrastructure inside Iran, while also targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian state media showed a missile inscribed with a message of loyalty to the new supreme leader, signaling that the Islamic Republic intended to continue fighting regardless of the leadership transition.
Trump also asserted in an interview with an Israeli outlet that Iran had been on the verge of destroying Israel and that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had jointly prevented it. He framed the ongoing conflict as a joint achievement, noting that the decision on when to end the war would be made jointly with Netanyahu. These statements signaled that Washington views the conflict as far from over.
As strikes continued across the Gulf and oil prices climbed, the world watched to see whether Mojtaba Khamenei would signal any willingness to de-escalate. Iran’s IRGC threatened to push crude prices above $200 a barrel if attacks on energy sites continued. Two civilians were killed in Saudi Arabia as the conflict spread beyond Iran’s borders. The new supreme leader faces the defining test of his authority in the very first days of his reign.