Milton
Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei — the second son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — has been selected as the Islamic Republic’s third ever Supreme Leader.
This is only the second time in history Iran has chosen a new Supreme Leader. The first was in 1989.
The problem? Trump explicitly told Axios last week: “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me.”
Iran just picked him anyway.
- Israel hit Iran’s IRGC Air Force Headquarters. The main command-and-control center.
Israel confirmed it struck the IRGC aerospace force headquarters — the central command used to direct all of Iran’s air force activity.
This wasn’t a weapons depot. This was the brain of Iran’s aerial operations.
Wide-scale strikes also hit additional Iranian regime targets in Tehran and other areas of the country simultaneously.
- Iran’s oil facilities are burning. Tehran’s sky turned black.
Israel struck Iran’s oil storage and refining facilities for the first time since the war began. The Shahran and Shar Rey oil depots — both in Tehran — were hit and set ablaze.
CNN’s team on the ground in Tehran reported blackened rain falling over the city on Sunday morning from the burning oil fires.
Analysts say this is designed to cut fuel supplies to Iranian troops and create a psychological crisis among the civilian population.
- A 7th American service member has died.
US Central Command confirmed the death of another American service member from injuries sustained during Iran’s initial strikes across the Middle East.
Seven US soldiers dead.
Trump, speaking at the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, called it “a very sad day” — then doubled down, saying “we’re winning the war by a lot.”
- Iran’s Foreign Minister ruled out any ceasefire. On live TV.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went on NBC News’ Meet the Press and made it official: no ceasefire.
“We need to continue fighting for the sake of our people.”
He also pointed out that the US National Intelligence Council’s own internal report found the war “is destined to fail” and that toppling Iran’s government through military strikes is “unlikely.”
The US government’s own intelligence. Saying the war probably won’t achieve its goal.
- Brent crude just posted its biggest weekly gain since the COVID pandemic.
In one week of war, Brent crude climbed 27% — the largest weekly surge since 2020.
And Trump’s response on Truth Social?
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for US and World Safety.”
- UAE intercepted 16 missiles and 113 drones. In a single day.
The UAE’s Defense Ministry confirmed its air defenses intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 113 drones from Iran on Day 9 alone.
Three foreign nationals — from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh — were killed in the UAE from missile debris. 112 residents injured.
This is not a distant war. It is landing on civilians in one of the world’s most international cities.
- Saudi Arabia was hit for the first time. People killed on Saudi soil.
Two people were killed and 12 others injured after a military projectile struck a residential facility in Saudi Arabia — the first reported deaths in the kingdom since the war began.
Saudi Arabia also intercepted 16 drones heading toward the Shaybah oil field — one of the largest in the Middle East.
- China publicly demanded the war stop. Xi is preparing to meet Trump.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters at China’s annual leadership summit: “This was a war that should never have happened, and a war that benefited no one.”
He called for an immediate halt to military operations and for all parties to return to the negotiating table.
The timing matters. Xi Jinping is preparing to host Trump in Beijing.
If it happens, let’s pay attention to this, could be huge.
- The death toll is staggering. And climbing.
More than 1,300 killed in Iran — including 200 children and 200 women confirmed by the Iranian Health Ministry.
Over 300 killed in Lebanon. About a dozen in Israel. Seven US soldiers.
The UN declared this a “major humanitarian emergency.”
And Iran’s Foreign Minister says there will be no ceasefire.
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To summarize, here’s what happened:
- Brent crude just had its biggest weekly gain since COVID.
- Iran chose a new Supreme Leader Trump already rejected.
- Saudi civilians are dying.
- And the US’s own intelligence says this war may not achieve its objectives.
This is Day 9.
Stay informed
Because this affects every single one of you — whether you’re in India, the US, Europe, Japan, or anywhere in between.
