Trump Points Ultimatum to Iran’s New Chief Mojtaba Khamenei as International Oil Costs Explode
In the latest updates from the battle that has wreaked havoc throughout Iran and the Center East, the Revolutionary Guards introduced their swift assist for the nation’s new supreme chief, Mojtaba Khameneiwho was introduced on Sunday. It stays to be seen what his first transfer will probably be and whether or not Mojtaba will have the ability to step into his father’s position.
In an announcement carried by state media, the meeting mentioned Khamenei had been chosen by way of what it described as a “decisive vote,” and urged residents, “particularly the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the brand new management of Iran.
This transfer, nonetheless, isn’t prone to sit nicely with US President Donald Trumpwho had already acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei was the most certainly successor and made clear that he thought-about him an “unacceptable” alternative.
Trump on Sunday mentioned that the brand new chief “isn’t going to final lengthy” if Iranians don’t get his approval first.
“He’s going to need to get approval from us,” Trump informed ABC Information. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to final lengthy. We need to guarantee that we don’t have to return each 10 years, once you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”
“I don’t need individuals to have to return in 5 years and need to do the identical factor once more or worse allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
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Trump declined to remark instantly on Mojtaba’s election, saying, “We’ll see what occurs.”
Trump additionally has not but dominated out sending particular forces to grab Iran’s enriched uranium. “All the pieces is on the desk. All the pieces,” he mentioned.
International oil costs surge
Iran’s prolonged assault on the Center East has despatched world oil costs previous $100 per barrel for the primary time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $20.34 a barrel and had been up $14.83, or 16.31%, at $105.73 as of 2220 GMT. They rose as a lot as 22.4% to $111.24 earlier within the session. The benchmark contract climbed 12% on Friday and has surged 36% over the previous week, Reuters reported.
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Trump mentioned it’s a “very small worth to pay for U.S.A., and World, Security and Peace.”
In a put up on Fact Social, Trump wrote, “Quick time period oil costs, which is able to drop quickly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear risk is over, is a really small worth to pay for U.S.A., and World, Security and Peace.”
“ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY,” he added.
‘Resolution will probably be mutual’, says Trump
Trump mentioned that any choice on when to finish the battle with Iran will probably be a “mutual” one which he’ll make along with Benjamin Netanyahuthe Instances of Israel reported.
“I believe it’s mutual… slightly bit. We’ve been speaking. I’ll decide on the proper time, however every part’s going to be taken under consideration,” he mentioned.
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He added that if he and Netanyahu had not been round, the Islamic Republic would have destroyed Israel. “Iran was going to destroy Israel and every part else round it… We’ve labored collectively. We’ve destroyed a rustic that wished to destroy Israel,” he informed The Instances of Israel in a short phone interview.
Center East beneath fireplace
The Center East continues to be beneath fireplace as Iran intensifies its assaults. Hours after Iran selected its new supreme chief, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) introduced that it had launched recent missile assaults.
It additionally posted an image of a projectile bearing the slogan: “At Your Service, Sayyid Mojtaba.”
In Bahrain, an Iranian drone assault that focused the island of Sitra left at the least 32 individuals wounded, together with 4 who had been severely injured, the dominion’s Nationwide Communication Centre informed CNN. The centre added that the assaults had been directed towards residential areas and precipitated vital harm.
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Iran additionally attacked Bahrain’s Al Ma’ameer oil facility, inflicting a fireplace on the advanced together with materials harm. “Outbreak of a hearth because of the Iranian aggression concentrating on a facility in Al Ma’ameer, with materials harm reported however no casualties recorded, and the competent authorities have begun firefighting procedures,” Bahrain Information Company mentioned in a put up on X.
Kuwait’s Nationwide Guard reported capturing down a drone Monday “at one of many websites beneath its safety.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence mentioned on X that it intercepted a missile assault on Monday morning.
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence additionally introduced the interception of missile and drone threats from Iran. The ministry acknowledged that the sounds heard throughout the nation had been a results of air defence techniques intercepting the projectiles.
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The Saudi Ministry of Defence mentioned it intercepted and destroyed 4 drones that had been heading towards the Shaybah oilfield, hours after an assault killed two Bangladeshi nationals within the kingdom.
The dominion’s Ministry of International Affairs strongly condemned Iran’s assaults, calling them “heinous” and a risk to regional safety and stability.
Saudi Arabia warned that continued Iranian assaults would escalate tensions and hurt relations, emphasising that Iran could be the “best loser” if it endured.
The Kurdish Rudaw information outlet reported {that a} drone assault had been intercepted on the worldwide airport in Erbil, Iraq.
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Seventh US service member killed
The US Protection Division on Monday mentioned that a seventh US service member has died within the nation’s battle with Iran.
🚨 BREAKING: US CENTCOM confirms a seventh American soldier has been kiIIed in Operation Epic Fury
Simply heartbreaking each single time.
The soldier has not but been recognized.
Per CENTCOM, “Final night time, a U.S. service member handed away from accidents obtained through the Iranian… pic.twitter.com/fQhGrPF5nl
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 8, 2026
“Final night time, a US service member handed away from accidents obtained through the Iranian regime’s preliminary assaults throughout the Center East,” US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed in an announcement on X.
The loss of life comes days after six different US troopers had been killed in a drone strike on a command centre in Kuwait.
US investigating strike on Iranian faculty
US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned authorities are nonetheless investigating a strike that hit an Iranian elementary faculty and killed at the least 168 youngsters, in keeping with state media. His remarks got here after new video footage appeared to indicate a US airstrike hitting a naval base subsequent to the college, including to proof that contradicts Donald Trump’s latest claims blaming Iran for the assault.
G7 to debate joint launch of emergency oil reserves
The G7 finance ministers will maintain an emergency assembly on Monday to debate a doable joint launch of oil reserves to sort out the surge in costs, the Monetary Instances reported.
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The oil reserves are co-ordinated by the Worldwide Power Company (IEA), with 32 members of the group holding strategic reserves as a part of a collective emergency system designed for oil worth crises.
Three G7 nations, together with the US, have up to now expressed their assist for a doable joint launch, in accordance individuals conversant in the talks.
Trump tells UK it doesn’t want plane carriers
US President Donald Trump mentioned the US doesn’t want Britain’s assist to win the battle with Iran, accusing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of contemplating becoming a member of the battle too late.
In a put up on Fact Social, Trump mentioned, “The UK, our as soon as Nice Ally, possibly the Biggest of all of them, is lastly giving severe thought to sending two plane carriers to the Center East. That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t want them any longer — However we are going to keep in mind. We don’t want people who be part of Wars after we’ve already gained!”