Situation in Iran

Information: Khamenei's son appointed new leader

Ayatollah Khamenei's second-eldest son Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed as the new supreme leader in Iran. This is according to information from the opposition, London-based Iran International.

He is said to have been appointed by the Iranian Assembly of Experts, whose 88 members are tasked with choosing the next leader from a list of candidates appointed by a secret committee.

According to Israeli defense sources to Axios, one of the Assembly of Experts' buildings, in the city of Qom, was bombed during the ongoing vote today to prevent the regime from choosing a new leader.

Iranian state media later reported that the members of the council held the vote remotely.


The Revolutionary Guard threatens its own population in text messages

Iran's Islamist Revolutionary Guard is sending threatening text messages to the population in an attempt to avoid protests critical of the regime. This is reported by NBC News, which has seen two messages that have been sent out.

In one, people are urged to report any activity that may be suspected of threatening security as well as "provocative propaganda and psychological operations". In another message, they address those who strive for a democratic and secular future for Iran.

"Any movement that disrupts security will be considered direct cooperation with the enemy and will be met with the hard fist of your children in the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence organization," it says, among other things.