Tehran, March 9, 2026: Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel on Monday, escalating tensions in the Middle East just days after clerics appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father in US-Israeli airstrikes.
The missile barrage marks one of the first major military actions under Mojtaba’s leadership and comes amid a rapidly intensifying regional conflict between Iran, Israel, and their allies.
Leadership change after Khamenei’s death
Iran’s Assembly of Experts officially named Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, as the country’s new Supreme Leader on March 8, replacing his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28 during the ongoing war.
The decision ended a brief leadership vacuum and marked the third Supreme Leader appointment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric long considered influential behind the scenes, has close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which quickly pledged loyalty to him after the announcement.
Analysts say his rise is controversial because it resembles a hereditary transition in a system that historically rejected dynastic rule.
🚨 BREAKING 🇮🇷🇮🇱: Iran displays missile strikes aimed at Israeli targets.
Iranian state media released footage of missiles fired toward Israel following the appointment of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei https://t.co/iKVBb5ibIi pic.twitter.com/xU8RXaZVed
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) March 9, 2026
Missile strikes raise regional tensions
Shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership, Iranian forces launched missiles toward Israeli targets, triggering air-raid sirens and activating Israel’s air defence systems.
The attacks are widely viewed as retaliation for the strikes that killed Iran’s former supreme leader and several senior officials. Regional authorities also reported rising tensions across the Gulf as the conflict spread beyond Iran and Israel.
Growing global concern
The latest escalation has raised fears of a broader Middle East war. Global markets have already reacted sharply, with oil prices surging and airlines cancelling thousands of flights across the region.
Western leaders, including former US President Donald Trump, have criticised the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei and warned that the conflict could intensify further if hostilities continue.
Uncertain future
Observers say the coming weeks will test Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership as Iran faces external pressure, internal political challenges, and the risk of wider war.
With missile exchanges continuing and diplomatic channels strained, the region remains on edge as the new Iranian leader begins his rule amid one of the most volatile periods in the country’s history.
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