Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, on Monday after he was killed in U.S.–Israeli air raids on 28 February.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said the “smart choice” of the Assembly of Experts “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation”, according to the website of the President’s Office.
“Under your leadership, Iran will reach a brilliant horizon of lasting independence, scientific and technological progress, and all-round development,” he said in a letter addressed to the new leader.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that the election of Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third leader “will strengthen national cohesion”.
“Under the current critical situation of the country, the election will undoubtedly guarantee the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of our beloved country and will strengthen national unity and cohesion,” the state IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
The armed forces, including the Revolutionary Guards as well as the Army, also expressed their support for the election of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, stressing their “complete obedience ... up to their last drop of blood,” to the leader, who is the commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces.
A ceremony will be held on Monday in a downtown square to express an oath of allegiance to the new leader.
Meanwhile, as the Israel–U.S. invasion of Iran entered its 10th day, a mass funeral was held at the capital’s Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in southern Tehran to bury civilians killed during the war.
Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Zahra Behrouz-Azar, in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urged the world body to take decisive action over the Israel–U.S. military aggression against Iran, IRNA reported.
She called on the UN chief to submit “an independent and accurate report to the international community on the violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law by the U.S. government and the Israeli regime in their aggression against Iranian territory and its widespread impact on the situation of women and children in war-torn areas”.
Behrouz-Azar stressed the need to use all diplomatic tools and deterrent measures against the aggressors in order to stop the killings, aggression and war crimes.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure as “chemical warfare” and “genocide.”
“Deliberate strikes on fuel storage facilities amount to chemical warfare against civilians,” he wrote in a post on X.
“These strikes constitute a war crime, crime against humanity and genocide - all at once.”
He also criticised the UN chief’s statements on the global economic fallout of the Israel–U.S. invasion of Iran, saying they neglected the human costs and moral aspects of the war.
“You are concerned about the ‘grave risk to the global economy’; what about the innocent civilians, including 175 little angels slaughtered in the city of Minab and many more killed and maimed across Iran during the past seven days of American and Israeli criminal acts?” he said, according to the Foreign Ministry’s website.
“The UN must be forthright and shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities regarding this illegal war on Iran,” Baghaei added.
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U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Monday it was reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on scaling back joint military drills. It added that it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks.
Azerbaijan exported goods worth $17.372 million to Armenia between January and July 2026, according to data from the State Customs Committee, as commercial ties between the two South Caucasus neighbours showed signs of expansion.
Kyrgyzstan is seeking to boost fuel imports from China as it looks to diversify supplies and reduce the risks of its heavy reliance on Russia.
At least 42 children were injured in an explosion at an educational centre in western Kabul on Monday, sparking international calls for a full investigation.
Uzbekistan could lose up to $1.5 billion if escalating Middle East tensions disrupt vital trade and logistics routes through Iran, putting pressure on supply chains and the wider economy.
Azerbaijan has summoned Russia’s ambassador in Baku over recent Russian media comments it described as insulting, provocative and threatening towards the country, its people and leadership.
Israel and the United States have agreed to establish two working groups on Gaza’s future as Washington pushes to turn a fragile ceasefire into a broader political and security arrangement.
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