Reactions and statements from the international community
On Monday evening, the Assembly of Experts announced that Mojtaba Khamenei has been designated as the third leader of the Islamic Republic with a unanimous vote from the representatives, despite recent denials from some members about his selection.
According to government media reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has been announced as the leader of the Islamic Republic and successor to his father, Ali Khamenei, in Iran.
In the "Cheshm Andaz" program, Mehdi Mahdavi-Azadi stated that the Islamic Republic has maintained a "sensitive wartime condition" for 47 years, characterized by anti-American and anti-Israel rhetoric, embassy attacks, and support for armed groups. Ali Khamenei has also emphasized that confrontation is preferred over compromise, leading to a crisis-oriented foreign policy.
IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella, in a statement to Arabic media, warned the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to leave Lebanon, threatening military action if they do not comply, and stated that Hezbollah and Iran are equivalent threats that must be disarmed.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, acknowledged on Sunday that the number of Iranian missile launches during the current war with the United States and Israel has decreased compared to the 12-day war, citing greater accuracy in fewer launches. Despite this reduction, Iran has rejected a ceasefire, with Ghalibaf stating that the aggressor must be punished.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Iran to cease attacks in the region and lift the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Macron also communicated with the Emir of Qatar, the President of Egypt, and the President of Azerbaijan to discuss regional conflicts and potential diplomatic solutions.
Emmanuel Macron, President of France, wrote on the X network that he had spoken with Masoud Pezeshkian to prioritize the security and return of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who are in the French embassy compound in Iran, and demanded that Iran stop attacks on regional countries and guarantee freedom of maritime navigation.
Ali Hosseini Ashkouri, a representative of Gilan in the Assembly of Experts, announced that the body has elected a new leader of the revolution with an absolute majority, confirming that Khamenei will continue as the leader of Iran.
On Saturday, March 7, the Israeli army announced it had targeted and killed Abolqasem Babaeian, a senior military commander and head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Tehran. Babaeian was also reportedly the head of the military office for the new leader of the Islamic Republic, though this has not been confirmed by Iranian officials.
On Sunday, March 7, 2026, unidentified individuals attacked the information center and IRGC facilities in Sahneh, Kermanshah, and also targeted the municipal police station around 5 PM.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the new leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran must obtain his approval or "will not last long," amid reports that the Assembly of Experts is close to introducing a new leader following the death of Ali Khamenei in the recent American and Israeli attacks. Trump also warned that the Iranian regime had been planning to dominate the Middle East and did not rule out further military action, including deploying U.S. special forces to remove Iran's enriched uranium.
IDF Brigade 769 conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, eliminating key Hezbollah militants and neutralizing others on the ground. Troops also discovered a significant weapons cache, including explosives, small arms, radios, and ammunition.
