On the 11th day of the military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered in the capital on Tuesday to demonstrate support for the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The transition in leadership follows the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amidst what has been described as “some of the most intense bombardments” of Tehran to date, reports Al Jazeera.
Defiance amidst strikes
Despite the ongoing air strikes, supporters of the new Supreme Leader described the mass rallies as a message of defiance against the attacking forces.
However, US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he was “not happy” with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, though he predicted the war could be over “pretty quickly.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed these claims on Tuesday, asserting that Iran would continue fighting for as long as necessary. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf pledged a “harsh response” to strikes targeting residential areas.
Rising casualties and military claims
The human cost of the conflict continues to escalate. Iranian authorities report that more than 1,255 people have been killed and approximately 10,000 injured since the start of the war.
Recent strikes include an attack on a residential building in Arak, which killed five people, and a bombardment in eastern Tehran that claimed at least 40 lives.
US President Donald Trump claimed that the US has struck over 5,000 targets, allegedly destroying the Iranian navy and air force, along with 80-90 percent of its missile launchers. He also confirmed a seventh US combat death.
In Israel, the death toll from Iranian attacks rose to 11 after a man was killed by shrapnel near Tel Aviv.
Regional spillover
The conflict has rapidly expanded across the Middle East. On Tuesday, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones.
- Bahrain: A 29-year-old woman was killed in Manama when a residential building was hit, prompting the suspension of all Gulf Air flights.
- Saudi Arabia: The military destroyed a drone east of al-Kharj, while another fell in Az Zulfi, causing material damage.
- Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would deploy a surveillance aircraft and send missiles to the UAE, though it would not commit ground troops.
- Iraq: Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani informed US Secretary of State Rubio that Iraqi territory would not be used for military actions against neighbours. Despite this, the IRGC claimed to have struck a US army headquarters at Harir Air Base in Erbil.
Global energy crisis
Strikes on Iranian oil facilities have sent toxic smoke over Tehran and triggered volatility in global energy markets. Crude prices, which reached nearly $120 a barrel, dropped to approximately $90 after President Trump threatened to intensify attacks if Tehran obstructed the Strait of Hormuz.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France and its allies are preparing a mission to reopen the Strait, while G7 finance ministers indicated they are ready to release energy stockpiles to stabilise the market.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also warned that a global energy crisis now threatens the world economy.
