The scope of Iran’s military operations expanded dramatically on Sunday, the same day that Mojtaba Khamenei was confirmed as the country’s new supreme leader. Five Gulf nations — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates — all reported being struck by Iranian drones and missiles in a coordinated series of attacks. The timing appeared deliberate: Iran was signaling that its military operations would continue regardless of any leadership transition.
The Assembly of Experts announced Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment following a decisive vote, calling on all Iranians to unite behind the new leadership and protect the revolution. Mojtaba, 56, is the son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has spent his career as an informal power broker within the regime. He has no background in formal governance but possesses deep ties to the IRGC and conservative clerical establishment.
Saudi Arabia bore the heaviest impact. Air defenses intercepted 15 incoming drones, but a residential area in Al-Kharj was struck, killing two people and injuring twelve. Bahrain’s desalination plant suffered material damage. The IRGC warned that oil could exceed $200 a barrel if attacks on Iranian energy facilities continued. The United States sought to prevent a market panic by pledging not to target Iranian energy infrastructure, though Israeli operations continued independently.
Iran’s domestic institutions presented a unified face behind the new leader. The IRGC, parliament, and armed forces all declared their loyalty. Yemen’s Houthis offered international support, celebrating the appointment as a victory against Iran’s enemies. Iranian state media showed missiles inscribed with loyalty messages to Mojtaba, reinforcing the image of a military and political establishment fully aligned behind the new supreme leadership.
The expansion of the conflict to five Gulf states simultaneously represents a significant escalation. Iran appears to be demonstrating that it has both the intent and the capability to strike broadly across the region even as it absorbs Israeli attacks at home. For Mojtaba Khamenei, managing this multi-front operation in the earliest days of his leadership is an immediate and severe test of whether he can command with the authority his new title requires.