The Pasdaran swear loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei after his appointment as Supreme Leader. Support from Tehran’s regional allies, while the United States and Israel issue harsh threats.
A drone attack launched byIran resulted in dozens of civilian injuries Bahrainwhile in Tehran the new balance of power is consolidated after the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to the Bahrain Ministry of Health, cited by Bahrain News Agencythe attack occurred in the locality of Sitra caused 32 injuries among the civilian population, four of them in serious conditions. Among the most critical cases there are also some minors who have had to undergo surgery. A 17-year-old girl suffered serious trauma to her head and eyes, while two children aged 7 and 8 suffered significant injuries to their lower limbs. Among the injured is also a two-month-old baby. On the Iranian political and military front, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its full allegiance to Mojtaba Khameneichoice by the Assembly of Experts as his father’s successor at the helm of the Islamic Republic. In an official note i Pasdaran they declared to recognize the authority of the new leader and be ready to carry out his orders. The statement states that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps «is ready for total obedience and sacrifice in implementing the divine commands of the Guardian Jurist of the time, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei».
The nomination was also welcomed by numerous armed groups and allied movements Tehran in the region. The rebels Houthis of Yemen publicly expressed their congratulations to the Iranian leadership and the people of Islamic Republicdefining the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei a relevant passage in the context of the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. Hamas did the same and recalled how Mojtaba Khamenei «he had participated in the martyr’s funeral Yahya Sinwarleader of the Hamas movement.” In a message released on Telegram, the Yemeni movement declared: «We congratulate the Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership and its people for the choice of Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei as the supreme leader of the Islamic revolution in this decisive moment.” The Houthis also described the appointment as «a new victory for the Islamic revolution and a heavy blow for Iran’s enemies.” In Iraq the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah welcomed the decision, expressing its support for the new leadership of the Iranian political-religious system. In an official statement the group underlined that Mojtaba Khamenei «he has the leadership qualities and experience necessary to take on responsibilities of this magnitude in such a delicate historical phase».
According to the Iraqi militia, the choice would also represent «a demonstration of vigilance and foresight of the Assembly of Experts» faced with the challenges that the Islamic Republic must face on the international scene. The press release also defines him as “the best successor to the best predecessor”. For years Mojtaba Khamenei He is considered one of the most influential figures in the Iranian security apparatus and the Revolutionary Guards’ favorite candidate for succession. However, his path to leadership was not without obstacles. According to various reconstructions, last weekend the son of the former Supreme Leader was injured during the initial attack of the military operation called «Roaring Lion». The episode, which occurred on Saturday morning, would have had the characteristics of an assassination attempt Mojtaba Khamenei he would have survived. However, the father, mother, wife and son lost their lives in the same attack. His appointment also sparked strong international reactions. The president of the United States Donald Trump he openly expressed his opposition to the idea that Khamenei’s son would take over the leadership of the country. «The son of Khamenei it is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran. I have to be involved in the nomination», he declared in an interview with Axios. Subsequently Trump he also reiterated his position in an interview with ABC Newsarguing that Iran’s next supreme leader would need to gain the consent of the United States in order to remain in power. Otherwise, he warned, “it won’t last long.” Words that fit into a climate of growing regional tension. Israel he has in fact openly threatened to strike anyone designated as the new leader of the Islamic Republic. The Minister of Defense Israel Katz declared that «any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to continue the plan of destruction of Israel and threaten them United States and the free world will be a target to be eliminated.” The position was also reiterated by the Israel Defense Forces, which warned that the Jewish state will continue to prosecute any successor to the former Supreme Leader and anyone who attempts to secure his succession. In the meantime Washington insists on the need to avoid a new confrontation on the Iranian nuclear program. Trump he explained that the goal is to prevent the issue from erupting again in a few years. «I don’t want us to have to go back to doing the same thing in five years or, even worse, find ourselves with a nuclear-armed Iran», said the American president.
