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Khamenei did not publicly designate a successor, and the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the supreme leader, is required to appoint a new one. In the interim, a council comprising the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council assumes the leader’s duties.
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Videos from inside Iran flooded social media following news of the death, showing crowds dancing and chanting in the streets in celebration. Other clips showed mourners. In Pakistan, at least nine pro-Iranian protesters were killed in clashes with police as they tried to storm the gates of the US Consulate.
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The UAE and Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s assault in blunt terms, suggesting Gulf Arab states are losing patience.
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Anwar Gargash, a senior advisor to the UAE leadership, urged Iran via X to “return to your senses,” warning that the Islamic Republic is now isolated at a critical time. Saudi Arabia summoned Iran’s ambassador in response to what it called “blatant” attacks which targeted the kingdom.
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Iran doesn’t expect anyone to intervene to support and the country is capable of defending itself, Araghchi told Al Jazeera, adding that Tehran didn’t start the war. Oman, which acted as mediator in the nuclear talks between the US and Iran that preceded the war, said Tehran is open to “serious efforts” that contribute to de-escalation.
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Trump said he has agreed to talk with Iran’s new leadership, The Atlantic reported, citing a conversation with him.
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The unfolding conflict could be a defining moment for the US leader, risking a drawn-out regional war that leads to a surge in energy prices and more American casualties ahead of midterm elections in November. The aim of the attack is “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social platform early Saturday, urging Iranians to “take over your government.”
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Asked about oil prices by Fox News on Sunday, Trump said he’s “not concerned about anything” and that a takeover by the Iranian people is “moving along rapidly”.
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Israel estimates its strikes destroyed hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and knocked out about half of the nation’s launchers for the weapons, according to an Israeli military official.
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About 200 Iran’s missile launchers were destroyed and dozens more rendered inoperable, the official said, asking not to be identified discussing sensitive information.
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US forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drones, Central Command said in a statement.
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Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defenses, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields, according to Centcom. Israel said the force’s commander, Mohammad Pakpour, was killed.
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Iranian media reported strikes on defensive and civilian sites, including one that killed over 140 people at a school in Hormozgan. Several large explosions have been reported in Tehran, the capital.
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The prospect of a weeks-long regional war is a nightmare scenario for US allies in the Gulf such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They pushed hard for Iran and the US to agree a diplomatic solution to their impasse over Tehran’s nuclear activities, fearing the chaos and flight shutdowns now unfolding could hit their economies and deter tourists as well as foreign investment.
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Trump said the military operation was required after Iran refused to renounce nuclear weapons, which Tehran has repeatedly said it isn’t pursuing. The most recent round of talks took place on Thursday.
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—With assistance from Eltaf Najafizada, Dana Khraiche, Galit Altstein and Leen Al-Rashdan.
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English (US)