“The designated heir in Iran, Khamenei’s son, was wounded but apparently is still alive.” Amit Segal, a journalist for Israeli Channel 12 and Ynet, reported this in a post on X. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is considered the favorite to be chosen as the new leader by the Assembly of Experts.
Pasdaran: “US base in Bahrain struck with missiles”
The Pasdaran claimed responsibility for an attack on the US base in Juffair, Bahrain, saying it was carried out in response to a raid from that base on one of their desalination facilities. “In response to the aggression by the American terrorists from the Juffair base against the Qeshm desalination plant, this American base was immediately struck by precision missiles of the Revolutionary Guards,” they said on their website.
Despite assurances from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had announced a ceasefire toward Gulf states, new explosions were reported in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, CNN reports. The Iranian agency Fars spoke of “strong explosions at American bases in Bahrain.” An Iranian attack caused a fire in Manama that destroyed a residence and other buildings, the Bahraini interior ministry said, denouncing “Iranian aggression” against the capital: “Civil defence is taking the necessary measures to extinguish the fire.”
Sources told AFP that “several explosions” were also heard in Doha. The emirate’s defence ministry said in a brief statement that “the armed forces intercepted a missile attack directed against the State of Qatar.”
The National Security Council of the United Arab Emirates wrote on X that “air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat,” urging the public to “stay in a safe place.” A new strong explosion was reported in Dubai, AFP said.
For the first time since the start of the Israeli-American military operation against Iran, the UAE president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, said the country is in a “time of war,” Haaretz reports. “We will fulfill our duty to our country, our people and the residents, who are part of our family,” bin Zayed said. “We are not easy prey. We have thick skin and tough flesh.”
Araghchi: “De-escalation opening killed by Trump’s misinterpretation”
“President Pezeshkian’s openness to de-escalation in our region, provided that the airspace, territory and waters of our neighbours are not used to attack the Iranian people, was almost immediately killed by President Trump’s misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intentions.” This accusation came from Tehran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in a statement released this evening after a day that began with Pezeshkian’s conciliatory declaration and apologies to the Gulf states, followed by a partial correction after Donald Trump spoke of Tehran’s “surrender,” and by the judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei’s assertion that attacks will continue against countries that assist “the enemy.” If Trump seeks escalation, “that is precisely what our powerful armed forces have long been prepared for, and it is exactly what he will get,” Araghchi warned, citing a US intelligence assessment that “a war on Iran is destined to fail.”
“The responsibility for any intensification of Iran’s self-defence will fall entirely on the US administration,” the head of Tehran’s diplomacy said, adding that “Mr. Trump’s week-long misadventure has already cost the US military $100 billion, as well as the lives of young soldiers.” “When markets reopen, that cost will rise steeply and be passed directly to American citizens at the petrol stations,” Araghchi said, referring to oil and gasoline prices.
The minister cited a report from the National Intelligence Council, “which represents the contribution of the 18 US intelligence agencies,” concluding that a war against Iran is destined to fail. Araghchi recalled warning Trump’s envoys that war would not improve their negotiating position: “Were these warnings conveyed?”
“The American people voted to end involvement in costly quagmires in the Middle East. Instead, they found an administration that, after decades of failed attempts, Netanyahu finally deceived into fighting Israel’s wars,” the minister concluded. “This is a war chosen by a small clique of ‘Israel Firsters,’ and ‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last.'”
Countdown to the new Supreme Leader
Meanwhile, Iran is counting down to the selection of a new Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts will meet “within the next 24 hours” to choose the new Iranian Supreme Leader following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Assembly member Ayatollah Mozafari told Fars agency. The Supreme Leader holds the final say on all state matters. The 88 members of the Assembly must decide who will assume the position according to the principle of velayat-e faqih, under which the successor must be a high-ranking political and religious authority. Khamenei never publicly named a successor.
On the Lebanese front, the Israeli Army today urged the last remaining residents in the southern outskirts of Beirut to evacuate “immediately” ahead of planned raids against Hezbollah targets. In a statement, the IDF Arabic-language spokesperson, Colonel Avichay Adraee, warned: “Urgent alert to residents of the southern periphery of Beirut, especially those who have not yet evacuated the area. We repeat: save your lives and leave your homes immediately.”
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