March 10, 2026
Since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28 and killed its Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the bombings, it has been a scramble to replace the former cleric.
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been selected by the Assembly of Experts today despite being rumoured to have been killed by US and Israeli airstrikes. Updated reports as of today is that the younger Khamenei is alive and well and expected to take up the top post as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
The Trump administration has already called his promotion “unacceptable,” and further saying that he will be targeted like his father was targeted. Mojtaba has not said anything publicly since being selected, so we will have to wait and see what he has to say about filling his father’s shoes.
But, just like that, while everyone was following the little Japanese macaque monkey, Punch, Iran fell under attack. What is also surprising is that Russia and China have not entered into the conflict decisively on the side of Iran.
Let is be seen that China and Russia cannot help you when the US decides to put the hammer down on you. This is pretty much clear now.