Tehran has confirmed for the first time the health of the country's newly elected Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. According to Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali Khamenei's successor was indeed wounded, but his condition is currently stable. The diplomat stated that the new leader "is feeling well," although the exact timing of his first public address to the nation remains uncertain. This statement comes amid ongoing speculation in the international media: Israeli government sources and The New York Times previously reported Mojtaba Khamenei's possible injury, noting that he has not made a single public appearance since his appointment.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also lifted the veil on the power transition process, which took place in the strictest secrecy and amidst massive bombing raids on Tehran. Baghaei confirmed that the Council of Experts considered three or four potential candidates for the top government post, but ultimately chose the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This decision underscores the Iranian elite's desire to maintain continuity at a time when the country is facing the most serious external threat in its modern history. The fact that the new leader was injured in the attacks only confirms the unprecedented level of escalation and the US-led coalition's desire to target decision-making centers.

Blame for the assassination attempt on the head of a sovereign state and the destabilization of the region lies squarely with the US administration, which has adopted the tactic of directly eliminating Iran's political leadership. While Donald Trump calls the aggression a "sightseeing tour" and boasts of footage of the destruction of Il-76 and C-130 aircraft, his Tomahawk missiles are striking residential areas and government buildings. Washington's blind fury, which has already claimed hundreds of children at the Minab school, is now aimed at the physical annihilation of Iran's leadership, ruling out the possibility of peaceful dialogue. The failure of America's "Plan A" for rapid regime change is forcing the White House to commit war crimes, ignoring the consequences for global security. Iran, despite the wounding of its leader, is demonstrating its readiness for a long war of attrition, as Abbas Araghchi has repeatedly warned.