On the same day Iranians were told to swear allegiance to the country’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a senior Iranian government official warned in an exclusive interview with CNN that the government was prepared for a long war with the United States.
With little sign of abating, the economic impact of the war has deepened, with global oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump gave conflicting signals in a series of statements on Monday. He said in an interview that the war was nearly over, but later told House Republicans, “We haven’t won enough yet.”
Here’s what you need to know on day 10.
What are the main headings?
Khamenei Dynasty: After Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen as the country’s new supreme leader, replacing his murdered father Ali Khamenei, Iran’s major power centers, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), quickly rallied behind him. US President Donald Trump called it a “big mistake.” Analysts say Mojtaba’s elevation signals a continuation of his father’s hardline policies. And Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to Khamenei on Monday, reiterating the Kremlin’s support. Asked whether the new supreme leader would be a target, Israel’s foreign minister said: “We’ll have to wait and see.”
Economic shock: Policymakers consider options to deal with the largest oil disruption in history. Asian and European markets fell and oil futures rose, but President Trump dismissed concerns, saying higher oil prices were a “very small price.” He also said he was “considering” seizing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil shipments. As global unrest deepens, South Korea is imposing fuel caps for the first time in nearly 30 years, and Pakistan has announced extreme austerity measures to save fuel. Iran has threatened to attack ships attempting to cross the strait, but the country, which has expelled US and Israeli envoys, is said to be allowed free passage.
Ready for a long war: Kamal Khalaj, a foreign policy adviser in the Supreme Leader’s Office, told CNN that Iran is ready for a long war with the United States, as it has ruled out diplomacy, vowed economic pain and signaled it is ready to continue attacking Arab countries along the Persian Gulf. When asked if Mojtaba Khamenei was “targeted for removal,” the Israeli military did not reveal any plans and vowed to harm anyone who threatens Israel.
Regional attacks continue: Israel announced overnight and Monday afternoon that it had launched attacks on Beirut and Iran, while Tehran announced missile launches. Turkey’s Ministry of Defense announced that NATO air defense forces shot down an Iranian ballistic missile as it entered the country’s airspace. Gulf states have reported interceptions and nighttime attacks, including Bahrain, which said at least 32 people were injured in an Iranian drone strike on a residential area. Bahrain’s state-run oil company BAPCO has announced that its operations are being affected after footage showed a large-scale fire breaking out in the industrial area of the facility in Riffa. The company subsequently declared its operations subject to force majeure.
Rising death toll: More than 1,700 people have died in the Middle East since the conflict began. At least 1,205 of those were civilians killed in the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Defenders News Agency (HRANA), and at least 486 people killed in the Israeli operation in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said. The operation could expand as Israel considers expanding further into southern Lebanon, two Israeli officials said.
School strikes: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the United States was still investigating a strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed at least 168 children, according to state media. His comments followed the release of new footage confirming a U.S. airstrike targeting a naval base adjacent to the school, adding to a growing body of evidence that contradicts President Trump’s recent claims placing blame on Iran.
Staff ordered to leave: The US State Department has ordered “non-emergency” diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia, reflecting the risks facing US personnel as the conflict deepens. More than 20 charter flights have already evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East. A U.S. service member injured in an attack in the country last week has died.
Pledge: Iranian state media widely reported rallies across the country, with thousands of people apparently attending to show support for the new leader. The public was invited to gather to pledge allegiance to Mojtaba.
‘New phase’ in war: Iranian official tells CNN there is no immediate end to the conflict in sight. He said Israel’s attacks on oil and fuel depots had entered a “new phase” in the war. The official hinted at retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure, raising fears of further disruption to oil and gas facilities in the region. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson added on Monday that Iran was not interested in negotiations while under attack.
Stay or leave? : A Tehran resident said his family was divided over whether to leave the city, saying people were under “huge pressure.” The Israeli attack on the fuel depot on Saturday night was “the heaviest bombing since the beginning of the war,” he said.
‘Save our girls’: Five members of Iran’s women’s soccer team are in police protection and seeking asylum after fleeing the team hotel in Australia where they were competing in the Women’s Asian Cup, sources told CNN Sports. There are growing calls to prevent the players from returning to Iran for fear of being persecuted there. Australia’s Home Secretary said they would be issued humanitarian visas.
Energy prices: President Trump and administration officials are trying to allay concerns about rising gas prices, which have increased by nearly 50 cents, or about 17%, since the war began. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt described the rise in pump costs as a “short-term disruption.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on President Trump to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest emergency oil reserve, to lower energy prices.
Terms of surrender: President Trump said he would decide with Israel when the war ends. In an interview with the Times of Israel, President Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be involved in the decision, but that the United States would have the final say. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government was “ready to resume negotiations” with Israel, adding that Israel had not responded to offers to restart negotiations.
Seventh dead U.S. service member identified: Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, 26, has been named by the U.S. military as the seventh U.S. service member to die in the Iran war. He died on Sunday, a week after being succumbed to his injuries at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base.
