Israel and the U.S. have been tracking him for days. See my earlier posts to understand who he is and the danger he holds in perpetuating the Regime. “Iran announces Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader,” Iran International, 3-8-26.
The choice of words is choice. Iran kills its own people. “Iran will “continue fighting for the sake of our people,” Abbas Araghchi said.” See “Foreign minister dismisses idea of Iran surrendering,” Politico, 3-8-26.
“Are Iranian Agents Still in Venezuela?,” WSJ, 3-8-26.
“UAE says Iran has fired 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones in new barrages,” Politico, 3-8-26. Almost all were shot down.
“Attacks on Desalination Drag Water Supplies Into War With Iran,” WSJ, 3-8-26. “Bahrain, where the drone strike occurred, is almost completely dependent on its plants for drinking water for its population of 1.6 million. Israel depends on the plants for about 80% of its drinkable water. About 90% of Kuwait’s water needs are met by desalination.” It is beyond ironic that Iran, refusing for years to provide its own people with enough drinking water, is now attacking other country’s efforts to provide water to their peoples.
“De Facto Wartime Leader Steers Iran’s Defiant Response to the U.S.,” WSJ, 3-8-26. It will be telling to see if Larijani sidelines Mojtaba Khamenei, the new “Leader.”
Knock out the Shaheds on the ground. Put a US navy convoy in the Strait. “The Long-Feared Persian Gulf Oil Squeeze Is Upon Us,” WSJ, 3-8-26. “Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a virtual halt, unleashing the most severe energy crisis since the 1970s and threatening the global economy.” … “We are looking at what is by far the biggest disruption in world history in terms of daily oil production,” said energy historian Daniel Yergin. “If it goes on for weeks, it will reverberate across the global economy.” That is exactly what Iran wants, Yergin said. Attacking energy facilities and shipping appears to be a Hail Mary attempt to make the war so painful for the American and allied economies that Trump backs down—as when Russia slashed natural-gas supplies in a failed bid to splinter Ukraine’s backers in 2022. Analysts fear that even a weakened Iran could keep the strait closed with missiles and drones, similar to the tactics its Yemeni allies, the Houthis, employed in the Red Sea in recent years. U.S. crude futures shot up 36% last week, their biggest surge since the market began in 1983. After Trump’s call on Friday for Iran’s unconditional surrender squashed hope on Wall Street that he might reach a speedy peace deal, prices rose more than they have on a single day since rebounding from the pandemic crash in 2020. They rose another 20% after markets opened on Sunday evening. The strait isn’t officially closed or physically blocked, and a small number of vessels have traversed it, some carrying Iranian crude. Still, on Sunday, more than 1,000 ships were waiting to pass through, their owners and sailors scared of being attacked after strikes on at least nine vessels that left one crew member dead.
“Iran Signals a Fight to the End With Appointment of Khamenei’s Son,” WSJ, 3-8-26.
“Scoop: U.S. dismayed by Israel’s Iran fuel strikes, sources say,” Axios, 3-8-26.
“Iraq Becomes Battleground for U.S. Forces Once Again,” WSJ, 3-8-26.
“Kurdish leader links potential Iran ground push to US-enforced no-fly zone,” Politico, 3-8-26.
I’m reminded how Iraq treated their athletes years ago. Thankfully, Australia offered asylum to those who wanted it. “Iran soccer team exits Women’s Asian Cup and faces the prospect of a return home,” 3-8-26.