Iran’s parliament speaker is floated as a possible US contact in talks as war rages

In 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran's Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike, an event that escalated conflict with Iran. This transition marks a significant and debated succession within the Islamic Republic. A documentary analysis explains Iran's power structure, established after the 1979 revolution by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and later transformed by Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader's authority over government, military, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is examined, highlighting the system's intended resilience. The analysis explores the implications of Mojtaba Khamenei's leadership, questioning the future of Iranian governance, the IRGC's influence, and the system's ability to withstand internal and external pressures.

Following the assassinations of Iranian leaders, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a Revolutionary Guards veteran, has become a prominent figure in Iran. Ghalibaf, a long-standing member of the Iranian establishment, is taking a leading role in the country's war efforts. Unlike Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader's son, Ghalibaf has been publicly active, using social media and interviews to communicate Iran's strategy. He has stated that Iran is in an "unequal war" and must utilize its own resources and innovation. Ghalibaf also indicated a shift in strategy after attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, suggesting a more aggressive "eye-for-an-eye" approach.

According to Iran's IRGC, spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes. The IRGC announced Naini's death on Friday, stating he was killed in a "criminal cowardly terrorist attack." This comes amid escalating attacks and assassinations of senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in late February. Naini's death occurred shortly after he affirmed Iran's continued missile production capabilities on national television. The Israeli army reported carrying out strikes across eastern Tehran as Iran marks the Persian New Year. The recent events have created a somber atmosphere in Tehran.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a death threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to statements published by Iranian news agencies on Sunday. The threat comes amid ongoing hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States, which escalated after a joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran began on February 28. Iran has retaliated with attacks against Israel and US-allied Gulf states. Despite the tensions, Iran's top diplomat stated that the country is open to proposals that would lead to a complete end to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Iranian authorities have arrested dozens of individuals across multiple provinces, accusing them of spying for Israel. The arrests were reported by state media over the weekend, with the Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affiliated news agencies announcing the operations. Suspects are accused of providing Israel with sensitive information, including the coordinates of Iranian military sites, economic infrastructure, public places, academic institutions, and research centers. The arrests included a 20-person group in Urmia, a 10-member group in Mazandaran province, and another 10-member network in Khorasan Razavi province. The Iranian government claims these individuals were "enemy operatives" working to undermine national security.

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured in a US-led airstrike on February 28 that killed six of his family members, including his father, Tehran's ambassador to Cyprus has confirmed. The attack occurred at the presidential complex in Tehran during the holy month of Ramadan. Alireza Salarian, the Iranian ambassador to Cyprus, stated that Khamenei was injured in his legs and hand and arm, but is currently in the hospital due to his injuries. The attack also killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's wife, Mansour, and several other family members. Mojtaba Khamenei's injury has prevented him from appearing in public or making statements since he succeeded his father as supreme leader on Sunday. Iranian officials have described the extent of Khamenei's injuries as "lightly injured".

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Friday that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly injured. Hegseth claimed Khamenei's written public address on Thursday indicated fear, injury, and a lack of legitimacy. Hegseth also announced a significant increase in US airstrikes over Iran and Tehran on Friday. Despite Khamenei's defiant statement that the Strait of Hormuz must remain blocked, Hegseth downplayed concerns about its closure. The US pledged to continue escalating attacks against Iran.

In March 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran, issued his first public statement following the assassination of his father and other family members in US and Israeli strikes. The statement, broadcast on state TV, called for national unity and vowed continued resistance against Iran's enemies. Khamenei declared the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed and demanded the immediate closure of all US bases in the region, threatening attacks if this demand was not met. He also stated that allied armed groups in Yemen and Iraq would assist in the ongoing conflict. Khamenei thanked the Iranian military and pledged that Iran would continue fighting. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28, and Mojtaba was appointed his successor on Sunday.

Iranian state TV announced on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named his successor. Mojtaba Khamenei was considered a potential successor even before his father was killed in an Israeli strike at the start of the war. The strike, which targeted the supreme leader's offices, also killed Mojtaba's wife. Despite being a secretive figure, Mojtaba had long been viewed as a contender for the position. He assumes the role despite never having been elected or appointed to any government position.

Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Assembly of Experts has reportedly elected his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader. Mojtaba, 56, has been involved in Iranian politics, working in his father's office and developing close ties with the IRGC. He began formal clerical studies in Tehran in 1989. The U.S. sanctioned Mojtaba in 2019 for representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity without holding an elected government position. Former President Trump expressed his disapproval of Mojtaba's potential succession, stating he was unacceptable. Mojtaba's rise to Supreme Leader comes after his father's death and amidst heightened tensions in the region.

Reports of injury to Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, have surfaced following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The son of the Iranian president, Yousef Pezeshkian, stated on Wednesday that Khamenei is "safe and sound," contradicting earlier reports. Khamenei assumed the role of Supreme Leader on Sunday after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28. The New York Times, citing unnamed Iranian officials, reported that Khamenei sustained injuries, possibly to his legs, and is currently in a secure location. The 56-year-old Khamenei, who has maintained a low public profile, has not yet addressed the nation since becoming Supreme Leader.

Published on March 11, 2026, the article "How much a day of war on Iran costs the US" examines the potential financial implications of a hypothetical military conflict between the United States and Iran. The article, presented "By the Numbers," likely breaks down the estimated daily expenses associated with such a war. It appears within a larger news context covering US-Israel relations and Iran, including topics like Iran's weapons capabilities and key figures such as Mojtaba Khamenei. The article aims to provide readers with a factual understanding of the economic burden a war with Iran could place on the United States.

Iran has escalated attacks on energy infrastructure and transport in the Middle East, setting ablaze two tankers in Iraqi waters. This action is part of a broader campaign to disrupt energy markets, contributing to oil prices reaching $100 a barrel. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding Iran's stance on allowing India-flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil trade. While one Indian source indicated passage would be permitted, Reuters reported an Iranian source denying this. The attacks and uncertainty surrounding tanker passage are impacting global oil markets.

Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel due to disruptions in global energy supplies amid the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. The surge follows Iran's pledge to maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for about one-fifth of global oil supplies. Traffic through the strait has significantly decreased, with only a few vessels passing through daily compared to the pre-war average. The US President has prioritized preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons over concerns about rising oil prices. Asian stock markets have declined following the oil price increase and overnight losses on Wall Street.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a potential candidate to succeed his father as the country's paramount ruler. He was considered a contender even before his father's death in an Israeli strike last week. Despite this, Mojtaba has never held an elected or appointed government position. He is described as a secretive figure within the Islamic Republic. Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the Israeli airstrike that killed his 86-year-old father. The circumstances surrounding the succession remain unclear.

In March 2026, Donald Trump stated his desire to be "involved" in choosing Iran's next supreme leader, following the death of Ali Khamenei. Trump voiced opposition to Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, assuming the role. He expressed a preference for a leader similar to Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez, who has allowed US influence in Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro's removal. Trump believes such a leader would be more amenable to US interests. However, analysts note the significant differences between Iran and Venezuela, including Iran's ongoing conflict with the US and Israel, and the religious qualifications required for the supreme leader position. Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the US.

Iran postponed the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in a US-Israeli airstrike, due to anticipated large crowds. The three-day ceremony was originally scheduled to begin at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla mosque in Tehran at 10pm local time on Wednesday. State television announced the delay, citing the "expected unprecedented presence of mourners," and indicated a new time would be announced later. The funeral is expected to draw supporters of the Islamic Republic who oppose US and Israeli actions, which have escalated into a regional war. Khamenei's death has been met with condemnation from Russia and China, but also celebrations from opponents of the Iranian regime.

On March 6, 2026, the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its seventh day, marked by continued attacks across Iran and the Gulf region. The US and Israel, under "Operation Epic Fury," claim to be crippling Iran's military, having conducted thousands of strikes and allegedly destroyed a significant portion of Iran's air defenses. The conflict has already cost billions of dollars, largely unbudgeted. Tensions are escalating, particularly regarding the succession of Iran's Supreme Leader after his reported death in a US-Israeli strike, with the US President expressing intentions to influence the selection. Iran has rejected negotiations with the US and warned against a potential ground invasion, while the US reports a significant decrease in Iranian missile and drone attacks.

On the fifth day of the war between Israel and Iran, Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran and Beirut, while Iranian missiles targeted US bases in the Gulf. Israeli strikes on Tehran, including police stations and IRGC headquarters, resulted in a rising Iranian death toll, estimated between 800 and 1,500. The US and Israel expressed satisfaction with the war's progress, though their objectives remain unclear. Funerals for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in earlier strikes, began in Tehran as senior clerics convened to select his successor, with Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's son and the IRGC's preferred candidate, being the frontrunner. Analysts suggest his appointment would signal a more authoritarian regime and a larger role for the IRGC.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they dismantled an underground military bunker in Tehran, built by former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the IDF, the compound served as a base for advancing military activities against Israel and the West. The bunker, located beneath Tehran, contained multiple entrances and meeting rooms. Khamenei and other regime leaders were situated directly above the fortified compound when almost 50 of them were killed during Operation Epic Fury. Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for over 30 years, was killed on the first day of the operation. The strike followed an Israeli-American deception plan, which included misleading messaging to suggest no immediate action was planned.