Iran officially announced Sunday that it haschosen its next supreme leader, though the identity of the successorremains under wraps for now, given that already the Assembly of Experts had last week paused the selection process amid the ongoing heavy US-Israeli bombing campaign. The other big concern is that the next Ayatollah of the Islamic Republicwill have big target on his back while under the bombs.
According to Iran's ISNA news agency, the Assembly of Experts reached their decision following emergency deliberations triggered by the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening hours of the war which kicked off early on February 28."The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined,"Mohsen Heydari, a member of the body,declaredSunday.
Fars Newsfurther cited another member, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, who confirmed that "a firm opinion reflecting the majority view has been reached" - but again, the name has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Israeli officials have made clear they will strike any figure chosen to replace Khamenei, raising the prospect that Iran's new supreme leader could face assassination almost immediately after going public and assuming power. But presumably there are command bunkers hidden deep underground, and all across the country.
Saturday and overnight saw the war expanding into a new phase, with US and Israeli forces nowhitting Iranian oil depots and refining facilitiesin Tehran for the first time - also what's said to be fuel storage for the country's armed forces, which has sentthick clouds of black smokeall over the densely-packed city of Tehran, which is comparable in size and population to New York City.
Oil-soaked raineven came down, and massive oil depot fires have burned through the night into Sunday...
JUST IN 🇮🇷🇺🇸: The fires in Tehran keep burning into the morning after last night's airstrikes on the oil depots.Teh air quaility is usually bad in tehran but this is making it much worse. Pray for the people that have to breathe this air.https://t.co/bjWup2DYN6pic.twitter.com/4OsHeM2TT5
Currently there are reports that the US is contemplating seizing control of Iran's largest oil export terminal onKharg Island. Per regionalreports:
A senior US officialvowed to take control of Iran's oilon Friday as the devastating regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran neared its second week.
"What we want to do is to get such massive oil reserves in Iran out of the hands of terrorists," White House advisor Jarrod Agen said in an interview with Fox Business.
Source: ZeroHedge News
