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US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Jamenei "won't last long" without his endorsement.
"You will need to obtain our approval,” Trump stated to ABC News,
"If she doesn't get it, it won't last long," he added.
For its part, according to AF, Israel announced that the new leader, who had already been reported as injured following a bombing, will be “a target.”
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he congratulated the new religious leader and reiterated that the relationship between Moscow and Tehran will remain strong despite the war scenario in the Middle East.
"Russia has been and will continue to be a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. I wish you success in the difficult tasks you face," states the congratulatory message sent by Putin.
The selection of the new leader
The Assembly of Experts of Iran, a body made up of 88 clerics responsible for designating the supreme leader, selected this Sunday Mojtaba Jamenei as the successor to his father, who passed away on February 28 during the bombings by the United States and Israel that triggered the current war.
The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had governed Iran since 1989, marked a turning point in the regional conflict.
His death occurred during the initial attacks on Iranian strategic facilities, in a military escalation that is already spreading across the Middle East and has raised fears of a global energy crisis.
Iranian state media confirmed the appointment early Monday morning. Mojtaba Jamenei, 56, had long been considered one of the most likely candidates to succeed his father.
Although he did not hold a formal position within the state apparatus, he was known for his considerable behind-the-scenes influence and his close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The United States sanctioned him in 2019.
The election of the new leader was supported by the Iranian political and military elite, while the Armed Forces expressed their loyalty to the new leadership and reiterated their commitment to "determinedly counter" the aggression of the United States and Israel.
The appointment also aligns with the hardline stance that the Iranian leadership has upheld since the beginning of the war.
The president of Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, recently stated that Tehran is not seeking a ceasefire and that those responsible for the attacks "must be punished."
"If the enemy attacks us from any country, Tehran will respond decisively," he warned.
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