Iran Foreign Minister Says Post‑Strike U.S. Talks Unlikely After Assembly of Experts Names Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei — a mid‑ranking, IRGC‑aligned hardliner long sanctioned by the U.S. — as supreme leader after the strike that killed his father, a move Tehran frames as continuity while drawing threats from Israel and sharp criticism from President Trump. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS that, given the U.S.–Israeli strikes, talks with Washington are now unlikely as the new leadership consolidates military backing amid ongoing regional attacks and rising oil prices.
📌 Key Facts
- Iranian state media and multiple outlets report the Assembly of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a Feb. 28 strike that also killed roughly 40 other senior officials; state TV read the Assembly’s statement urging unity and showed scenes of celebrations in parts of Tehran.
- Mojtaba Khamenei is a mid‑ranking cleric (hujjat al‑Islam), long a behind‑the‑scenes power broker with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); he has never held elected office, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2019, is widely described as a hard‑liner, and has been reported to control extensive, opaque business holdings.
- Several top Iranian security figures were reported killed in the opening campaign (including Ali Shamkhani, IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh), and members of Mojtaba Khamenei’s family — including his wife Zahra (Haddad Adel), his mother and a son — were also reported killed; Mojtaba himself was reportedly wounded but survived.
- Multiple outlets report the succession was contested and took place amid visible rifts and pressure from the IRGC and other security elements, with analysts saying Mojtaba’s authority is rooted in security‑institution backing and that his scope for independent reform appears limited.
- Iran’s foreign minister told PBS that talks with the United States are unlikely following the U.S.–Israeli strikes, while U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly denounced Mojtaba as 'unacceptable' and said the U.S. must be 'involved' in any leadership outcome; Israeli officials have openly threatened that any new leader continuing an anti‑Israel/U.S. course would be a target for elimination.
- The leadership change coincides with a sharp regional escalation: Iran has launched multiple waves of missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others), causing civilian injuries and infrastructure damage (including reported hits on oil and desalination facilities) and prompting Gulf countries to report interceptions and disruptions.
- The conflict’s human toll and U.S. involvement have grown — reporting aggregated casualty figures include more than 1,200 killed in Iran, nearly 400 in Lebanon, 11 in Israel and at least seven U.S. service members killed since the war began — and the U.S. State Department has directed some diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia.
- The war has had immediate economic effects: oil prices surged above $100 per barrel (briefly approaching $120 in some reporting), Brent was cited near $101.19, and U.S. average gasoline prices rose (reported around $3.48 per gallon), with markets reacting sharply to the risk of broader supply disruptions.
📊 Relevant Data
According to a 2026 poll, 68% of Black Americans oppose U.S. military actions in Iran, compared to 60% of Latino Americans and 52% of White Americans.
Most Americans against Trump, U.S. actions in Iran, new poll shows — Yahoo News
Projections for the Iran war indicate potential displacement of up to 10% of Iran's 92 million population, rivaling the largest refugee flows in recent decades, with ethnic minorities such as Kurds (about 10% of the population), Arabs, and Baloch facing disproportionate crackdowns and vulnerabilities.
How The Iran Conflict May Fuel A New International Refugee Crisis — Forbes
Beyond the 1953 coup, U.S. historical involvement in Iran includes initiating its nuclear program through the 1957 Atoms for Peace initiative and supporting Iraq during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, contributing to long-term tensions and Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
Rising oil prices from the Iran conflict could increase average U.S. household energy costs by $750 annually if prices remain around $100 per barrel, with broader ripple effects on goods like plastics and personal care items, exacerbating burdens for lower-income households.
How Higher Oil Prices Are Rippling Through Household Budgets — Forbes
📰 Source Timeline (22)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 10, 2026
2:12 PM
Iran war, 11 days in: US controls skies, oil surges and the region braces for what’s next
New information:
- This Fox article reiterates that Iran’s Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader, but adds more context that his selection 'signals continuity rather than recalibration' and consolidates authority with IRGC‑aligned hard‑liners.
- It quotes President Trump criticizing the succession and stressing that the U.S. military campaign will continue regardless of who occupies the supreme leader’s office, framing the leadership change as irrelevant to U.S. objectives.
- The piece explicitly frames the Mojtaba succession as reinforcing expectations of a prolonged confrontation, rather than serving as any diplomatic off‑ramp.
March 09, 2026
9:15 PM
What Iran's foreign minister told us about the next supreme leader, rising oil prices
New information:
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS that talks with the United States are unlikely to be on Iran’s agenda anymore following the U.S.–Israeli operation against Iran.
- Araghchi said Americans promised in the last February nuclear talks they had no intention to attack Iran, then proceeded to bomb three nuclear sites in June, which he frames as a 'bitter experience' that undercuts future negotiations.
- Araghchi characterized Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation as sending a message of 'continuity and some sort of stability' and said it is 'too soon' for the new supreme leader to comment on talks with Washington.
- President Trump publicly called Mojtaba Khamenei an 'unacceptable' choice, labeled his selection 'a big mistake,' and said he had another unnamed person in mind for Iran’s next supreme leader, claiming he wants 'someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.'
- The article quantifies that average U.S. gasoline prices have risen to $3.48 per gallon, roughly a 17% increase since the first U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, and notes this is driven by disruption to Middle Eastern production and shipping.
8:41 PM
Signaling defiance, Iran’s regime rallies around a younger Khamenei
New information:
- The Christian Science Monitor piece emphasizes that Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection was in part a deliberate act of defiance toward President Trump, whose public denunciations 'certainly gave Mojtaba a boost' according to Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil.
- It reports that Mojtaba was reportedly wounded in the same Israeli strike that killed his father, his mother, his wife, a son, and other relatives, underscoring both personal stakes and potential radicalization.
- The article documents simultaneous regime‑organized 'Night of Destiny' street vigils supporting Mojtaba and social‑media videos of Iranians shouting 'Death to Mojtaba!' from apartments, highlighting a split between official mobilization and public dissent.
- It relays that Israel has publicly said any new Iranian supreme leader will be 'eliminated' in a targeted assassination and that Trump called Mojtaba a 'lightweight' and an 'unacceptable' choice while vowing to personally 'approve' any future Iranian leader.
- An expert quoted describes Mojtaba’s selection as a 'gamble' by Iran’s deep state to showcase resilience and resistance in wartime, tightly linking him to the IRGC and regime‑linked economic interests.
6:52 PM
Iran’s new supreme leader is ‘his father on steroids,’ experts warn of hardline rule
New information:
- Kasra Aarabi of United Against Nuclear Iran describes Mojtaba Khamenei as already acting as a 'mini supreme leader' within Bayt‑e Rahbari and calls him 'his father on steroids.'
- An Iranian source with knowledge of the transition says Mojtaba was chosen 'amid disputes, controversies, and pressure from the IRGC,' meaning he 'owes his appointment to their support and therefore cannot act against their wishes.'
- The same source says prior whispers that Mojtaba might pursue domestic or foreign‑policy reforms now 'seem very weak' given how dependent he is on IRGC backing.
- The article reiterates Mojtaba’s 2019 U.S. sanctions under Executive Order 13867 for representing his father in an official capacity despite never holding a formal government post, underscoring his long‑standing role inside the security apparatus.
- Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies is quoted to frame Mojtaba’s rise as part of a broader shift from clerical to security‑institution power within the Islamic Republic.
6:11 PM
What to know about Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader
New information:
- Confirms that Iran’s Assembly of Experts said a majority of members voted on Sunday to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s third supreme leader since 1979.
- Clarifies that Mojtaba Khamenei is a mid‑ranking cleric holding the title 'hujjat al‑Islam', below the rank of 'ayatollah' that his father held as supreme leader.
- Adds biographical detail: born in 1969 in Mashhad, second of six children, educated at elite Alavi High School, joined the Revolutionary Guard and served in Iran‑Iraq War’s final years, then studied theology in Qom and built ties with ultra‑conservative clerics.
- Reinforces expert assessment from Afshon Ostovar that Mojtaba Khamenei is the candidate 'closest to the IRGC' and that his selection signals a desire to preserve the status quo.
- Notes that Mojtaba has never held a formal government position and has mostly operated behind the scenes within his father’s inner circle, making him 'an unknown quantity' publicly.
3:16 PM
Iran's new supreme leader is ultra-conservative Mojtaba Khamenei
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that Iran’s state media announced Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader on Sunday.
- The piece emphasizes his characterization as an 'ultra‑conservative' figure, reinforcing prior descriptions of him as a hard‑liner closely tied to the IRGC.
- It frames the succession specifically through a U.S. national‑security lens via CBS’s senior national security correspondent, underlining how Washington is reading the leadership shift.
2:09 PM
The war in Iran has entered a second week. Here's where things stand
New information:
- Confirms Mojtaba Khamenei has formally received an allegiance pledge from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, underscoring hard‑line military backing.
- Notes that President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly apologized for attacks on neighboring countries, drawing criticism from hard‑liners who insist the war strategy will continue, indicating visible rifts inside Iran’s leadership.
- Reports that Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen or heard from publicly since the war began and has made no statement in his new role.
- Reiterates that Iran’s previously reported death toll stands at more than 1,200 with no weekend update and that more Iranians are fleeing the country.
2:08 PM
Trump says he's "not happy" about Iran's new supreme leader
New information:
- Trump told Fox News, via 'Fox & Friends' host Brian Kilmeade, that he is 'not happy' about Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s new Supreme Leader.
- Trump has repeatedly called Mojtaba Khamenei a 'lightweight' and 'unacceptable' as leader and says the U.S. must be 'involved in the appointment.'
- In comments to Axios, Trump explicitly compared his desired role in deciding Iran’s leadership to U.S. involvement in installing interim president Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro’s capture.
- In a separate ABC News interview, Trump said Iran’s next leader 'is going to have to get approval from us' and warned that without U.S. approval, 'he’s not going to last long.'
- The article notes Mojtaba Khamenei, described as 57 years old, worked quietly behind the scenes under his father and has deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
11:20 AM
Iran picks new leader. And, Trump won't sign bills until Congress overhauls voting
New information:
- NPR reiterates that Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has been selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in early U.S.–Israeli airstrikes, confirming via Iranian state television.
- A senior Israeli defense official told NPR that Israel’s war aim is to dismantle Iran’s army, navy and military industries within about three weeks so that the regime effectively has no fighting force left.
- The same official acknowledged that President Trump could end the war at any time, and NPR reports U.S. officials were displeased with the scope of Israel’s weekend strikes on Iranian oil facilities, based on a person briefed on the matter.
9:59 AM
Iran attacks Israel, Gulf states, after naming new leader on Day 10 of war
New information:
- Confirms Iran launched a fresh round of missile and drone attacks overnight into March 9 targeting Israel and several Gulf states, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- Reports at least 32 injuries, including children, from an Iranian strike on the island of Sitra in Bahrain, and notes Bahrain’s state oil company Bapco has declared force majeure due to disruptions after a drone attack.
- Details Qatar’s claim that an Iranian strike on a residential facility in Al‑Kharj, Saudi Arabia, killed two civilians and wounded others, and that officials in Fujairah, UAE, reported a fire at an oil facility hit overnight.
- Notes Saudi Arabia’s interception of several drones targeting the Shaybah oil field and an official Saudi Foreign Ministry statement condemning the attacks and warning it may take 'all necessary measures' to defend itself.
- Provides updated aggregate casualty numbers: more than 1,200 killed in Iran, nearly 400 in Lebanon, 11 in Israel, and 7 U.S. service members killed since the war began.
- Reports crude oil prices briefly neared $120 per barrel Monday amid fears of wider supply disruptions tied to the new Iranian attacks.
- Reiterates that Mojtaba Khamenei has close ties to the IRGC, that the Assembly of Experts called on the public and elites to pledge allegiance, and that President Trump had previously said Mojtaba would be an 'unacceptable' successor.
8:18 AM
Live Updates: Iran Names Khamenei’s Son Supreme Leader
New information:
- Iranian state media say Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed by a committee of senior Shiite clerics, with the succession framed explicitly as continuity with his slain father Ali Khamenei.
- Iran says it has launched at least two new waves of missiles toward Israel as the war enters its 10th day, while Israel reports strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and targets inside Iran.
- The U.S. State Department has directed American diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia, signaling Washington’s concern about rising risks in the kingdom.
- Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reports intercepting four separate attacks involving five drones headed toward the Shaybah oil field, two more drones over northern Riyadh, and three ballistic missiles targeting a Saudi air base.
- Qatar’s Foreign Ministry publicly blames Iran for an attack that killed two civilians in Saudi Arabia, calling it a 'dangerous escalation' that threatens regional security.
- Bahrain’s state-owned energy company has declared force majeure on its operations after an attack on its refinery complex, citing the ongoing conflict.
- The liveblog notes oil has surged above $100 with Asian markets reacting sharply lower as trading opened, with Democrats in the U.S. warning of an affordability crisis for consumers.
- The piece reiterates that Israeli officials have threatened to kill the new supreme leader and that President Trump called Mojtaba Khamenei an 'unacceptable' choice and warned he is 'not going to last long' without U.S. approval.
1:33 AM
Iran names new supreme leader, 7th U.S. troop dies in war
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that Mojtaba Khamenei has now been named Iran’s new supreme leader, consistent with prior reporting.
- U.S. Central Command reports that a seventh American service member has died in the ongoing war with Iran.
12:27 AM
Iran Signals a Fight to the End With Appointment of Khamenei’s Son
New information:
- This piece explicitly frames Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as a direct act of defiance toward President Trump and evidence that U.S. pressure has failed to cow the regime into surrender.
- It underscores that Mojtaba is a conservative long close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and that his elevation appears to cement hard‑liners firmly in control, with moderates and reformists long marginalized.
- The article characterizes the 56‑year‑old Mojtaba Khamenei as expected to take a confrontational stance toward the West, sharpening expectations for how he will approach the war.
March 08, 2026
11:45 PM
Iran names Khamenei’s son as new supreme leader
New information:
- Article explicitly notes that Iranian state TV announced Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection early Monday and read a statement from the Assembly of Experts saying he was chosen based on 'strong' votes and urging national unity.
- Reports that Iranian state TV broadcast scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran after the announcement.
- Direct new Trump quotes: he called Mojtaba Khamenei 'unacceptable' as Supreme Leader, said 'We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,' and told ABC News he wants a say in who comes to power and that a new leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval.
- Confirms public endorsements from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah, including Hezbollah circulating a portrait of Mojtaba Khamenei on Telegram captioned 'Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution.'
- Adds fresh operational details on the war’s regional impact: Bahrain accuses Iran of striking a key desalination plant, Saudi Arabia reports its first two deaths from a projectile hitting a residential area, and Gulf countries have been struck by hundreds of missiles and drones since Feb. 28.
- Updates market figures: Brent crude at about $101.19 per barrel, up 9.2% from Friday’s close, with oil above $100 for the first time in more than three and a half years.
10:51 PM
Iran names new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Iranian state media reports
New information:
- Iranian state media now report that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been formally named Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts.
- The piece details that the Assembly of Experts consists of 88 clerics supervised by the 12-member Guardian Council, clarifying the institutional mechanics of the succession.
- It notes explicitly that Ali Khamenei was killed on Feb. 28 in a strike that also killed about 40 other high-ranking Iranian officials.
- The article provides biographical detail on Mojtaba’s long-standing behind-the-scenes role in his father’s office, his influence within the IRGC and security apparatus, his participation in the Iran–Iraq war, and his likely role in coordinating the 2009 Green Movement crackdown.
- It underscores that Mojtaba has never held elected office, has never given a public speech, and is widely seen by analysts as a hardliner whose authority derives more from security ties than religious stature.
10:35 PM
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, is chosen to replace his father
New information:
- Details that Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was also killed in the initial Israeli airstrike and that her family has long-standing ties to Iran’s theocracy.
- Confirmation that the Assembly of Experts’ choice followed visible signs of rifts among Iranian officials while the decision was pending.
- Reporting that Mojtaba now has direct command over Iran’s military at war, including the Revolutionary Guard, and over a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used for a nuclear weapon if he decrees it.
- Context that U.S. President Donald Trump publicly derided Mojtaba as a 'lightweight,' said 'Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me,' and claimed he 'has to be involved' in the appointment, which may have indirectly boosted Mojtaba’s standing among Iranian hard‑liners.
- Historical and biographical context about Mojtaba’s background, including his role analogous to Ahmad Khomeini as aide, confidant, gatekeeper and power broker before his elevation.
10:35 PM
US-sanctioned Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s next supreme leader after father’s death: reports
New information:
- Fox cites Iran International reporting that the Assembly of Experts has elected Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader and that the decision was allegedly made "under pressure" from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Provides biographical detail on Mojtaba Khamenei’s upbringing, clerical training, and role as an influential behind‑the‑scenes figure, including studies under his father and former chief justice Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
- Reiterates that the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Mojtaba in 2019 under Executive Order 13867, saying he represented the supreme leader in an official capacity despite never holding an elected or formal government post, and that he worked closely with IRGC Quds Force and Basij commanders.
- Notes that initial reports had said Mojtaba was among about 40 officials killed in the Feb. 28 strike, but that he has now reportedly emerged as the chosen successor.
- Adds Trump’s comment that "most of the people we had in mind are dead" regarding Iran’s succession bench, framing Mojtaba as a survivor of the targeted leadership strike.
10:35 PM
What we know about Mojtaba Khamenei, new supreme leader of Iran
New information:
- CBS segment explicitly frames Mojtaba Khamenei as the newly named Supreme Leader and son of Ali Khamenei, reinforcing the dynastic nature of the succession.
- It underscores that Iranian authorities have publicly and formally presented him as the new Supreme Leader following Ali Khamenei’s death.
- Adds a mainstream U.S. TV-network framing that this is a significant leadership transition being watched by U.S. policymakers and publics, though the clip itself is light on granular biographical detail beyond what is already known.
9:24 PM
Mojtaba Khamenei set to succeed his father as Iran’s supreme leader
New information:
- Confirms that Iran’s regime has officially named Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader, making him the third person to hold the post.
- Specifies that the Assembly of Experts selected him, and notes the assembly’s building in Qom was itself hit in a March 3 airstrike.
- Reports additional family casualties from the opening airstrikes: Mojtaba’s wife Zahra Adel, his mother Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, and his son were killed according to Iranian state media.
- Adds that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly threatened on X that any leader appointed by Iran’s regime to continue its anti‑Israel/anti‑U.S. course would be an "unequivocal target for elimination."
- Reiterates and expands Trump’s televised statement that any new Iranian leader will "have to get approval from us" and that without it "he’s not going to last long," while noting Trump did not rule out someone with ties to the old regime.
- Details Mojtaba Khamenei’s status as a mid‑level cleric (not an ayatollah), paralleling his father’s elevation in 1989, and references prior reporting on his foreign real‑estate holdings worth over $100 million.
- Frames Mojtaba as de‑facto leader of the wider "Axis of Resistance" network of armed groups (Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas and others), with several senior Iranian military officials already killed in the campaign.
9:16 PM
Iran's next supreme leader: Khamenei's hardline son Mojtaba
New information:
- Iranian state media now report that Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed his father Ali Khamenei as Iran’s next supreme leader.
- Axios notes that U.S. and Israeli ‘major combat operations’ killed Ali Khamenei after Iran refused to agree to a nuclear deal, and that those strikes also targeted Mojtaba and other senior figures but he survived.
- The article states that several top security officials — Ali Shamkhani, IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh — are dead, ‘scrambling’ Iran’s top leadership.
- Background detail that Mojtaba is widely expected to be more hardline than his father, with alleged roles in engineering Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 2005 election win and supervising the IRGC’s crackdown on 2009 protests.
- Axios cites prior reporting that Mojtaba oversees a large, opaque global business empire of luxury properties and investments despite U.S. sanctions imposed on him in 2019.
6:09 PM
Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei successor to the late supreme leader
New information:
- Confirms via AP/PBS that Iranian state TV read a statement from the Assembly of Experts saying Mojtaba Khamenei was selected based on "strong" votes and urging the nation to unite behind him, while airing scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran.
- Details that President Donald Trump has publicly said, "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," and told ABC News that any new leader "is not going to last long" without his approval.
- Reports explicit endorsements from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and from Hezbollah, which posted Mojtaba’s portrait on Telegram with the caption, "Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution."
- Quotes senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani praising the Assembly of Experts for convening amid airstrikes and saying Mojtaba had been trained by his father and "can handle this situation."
- Adds regional fallout details: Bahrain accuses Iran of striking a vital desalination plant; Saudi Arabia reports its first deaths from the war after a projectile hit a residential area; Arab League chief condemns Iran’s "reckless policy" of attacking neighbors hosting U.S. forces.