Where things stand after another weekend of war in the Middle East

As Mojtaba Khamenei takes the helm in Tehran, oil prices surge and regional casualties climb in a conflict that enters its 10th day on Monday3-MIN READ3-MIN4 ListenPublished: 1:39pm, 9 Mar 2026Updated: 1:44pm, 9 Mar 2026Iran has named a son of its late supreme leader as his successor. US President Donald Trump already had expressed disdain for Mojtaba Khamenei, calling him “unacceptable”. The Islamic Republic’s war strategy now has a new commander, and the powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has pledged allegiance.Oil prices shot above US$100 a barrel. Both sides in the war struck new targets over the weekend, including civilian ones. Bahrain accused Iran of hitting one of the desalination plants that are crucial for drinking water in Gulf countries. Israel struck oil depots in Tehran, sending up thick smoke and causing environmental alerts.The US announced another soldier’s death. Saudi Arabia announced the first deaths there. Anger grew in Arab countries over Iran’s launching of hundreds of missiles and drones around the region. The Israeli military’s chief of staff warned that the war “will take a long time”.01:19Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leaderWho is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leaderIranIran’s announcement of a new supreme leader came after the country’s remaining leadership appeared to show a rift. President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries, but hardliners criticised that and said the war strategy would continue.The new supreme leader had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war began. He has not made a statement in his new role. The younger Khamenei inherits both the war and domestic unrest after Iran earlier this year cracked down on some of its largest protests in half a century.Iran did not publicly update its death toll over the weekend from the over 1,200 previously reported. Some Iranians continued to flee the country.IsraelIsrael attacked both Iran and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in neighbouring Lebanon, where authorities say over half a million people have been displaced and over 300 killed.