https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-rejects-settling-iran-war-raises-prospect-killing-all-its-potential-2026-03-08/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT New York * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + On the Money + Watchlist + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Econ World + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP30 * More Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court Commentary + Breakingviews + ROI: Reuters Open Interest Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted Investigations Sports + Winter Olympics + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis Science Lifestyle + Culture Current City Memo Graphics + Chart of the Week Pictures Wider Image Podcasts + Reuters World News + Reuters Econ World + On Assignment + Viewsroom + The Big View Live Fact Check Video Media Center + Announcements + Awards + Inside the Newsroom + People News Sponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases Subscribe Iran names Khamenei's hardline son Mojtaba as new supreme leader, oil surges By Parisa Hafezi and Maayan Lubell March 8, 20262:39 AM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * * Summary * Leadership of Iranian armed forces pledge allegiance * U.S. crude futures surge more than 20% * Trump insisted on US having say in selection of new leader * US military reports death of 7th American service member * Israel attacks major fuel storage facilities near Tehran DUBAI/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war on Iran sparked a surge in oil prices. Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran's security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead up to Sunday's vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei's successor. Sign up here. "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time. The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mojtaba's appointment will likely draw the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that Washington should have a say in the selection. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long," he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatened to target whoever was chosen. Mojtaba's father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago. The U.S. military on Sunday reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during Iran's initial counter-attack a week ago, a day after Trump presided over the return to the United States of the remains of the six others killed. The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade, with damage to facilities, disrupted logistics and elevated risks to shipping. U.S. crude futures rose more than 20% in early trade on Monday, hitting highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. DEFIANCE FROM TEHRAN Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran's armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader. Smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran Mojtaba Khamenei visits Hezbollah's office in Tehran Smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran Smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran Smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran Smoke rises after a reported strike on fuel tanks at an oil refinery, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran Smoke continues to rise after a reported strike on fuel tanks in an oil refinery, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran A counter-protester holds an Iranian flag near a rally by people supporting the Israel-U.S. conflict with Iran in Toronto People attend a protest against U.S. and Israel strikes against Iran in New York People attend a rally against the Iranian leadership, in Los Angeles Item 1 of 10 People stand near a destroyed vehicle as smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/ WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS [1/10]People stand near a destroyed vehicle as smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more The Assembly of Experts met on Sunday to elect a new supreme leader despite threats that the body would be targeted, Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, said on state TV after the announcement. Mojtaba Khamenei could lead the country under the current sensitive conditions, Larijani said, calling for unity around the new leader. The announcement came after Tehran signaled defiance, despite Trump's call for an "unconditional surrender." Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker, said earlier that Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire to the war and would punish aggressors. Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike. As fighting escalated on Sunday, the ninth day nine of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities, opens new tab had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. A map of Iranian hydrocarbon infrastructure and key production fields A map of Iranian hydrocarbon infrastructure and key production fields 'DANGEROUS NEW PHASE' Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. "By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air," he wrote on X. Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran's war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. "They are a legal military target," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's rulers "without mercy". "We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change," he said in a video statement. Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he was not seeking negotiations to end the conflict, which has driven up global energy prices, disrupted business and snarled air travel. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say, 'We surrender'," he said. Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Crispian Balmer, Charlie Devereux, Steve Holland and Simon Lewis; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Sergio Non and Diane Craft Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Cybersecurity * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights Read Next * March 6, 2026Sustainabilitycategory US suspects China in breach of FBI surveillance network, WSJ reports A general view of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) building in Washington * March 5, 2026Worldcategory Europol warns Iran crisis raises threat of terror, extremism and cyberattacks General view of the Europol building in The Hague * March 5, 2026Technologycategory FBI 'identified and addressed' suspicious cyber activity on its networks, agency spokesperson says A general view of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) building in Washington * March 5, 2026Worldcategory Philippine resupply mission data leaked to Chinese intelligence, security official says Illustration shows a sign reading * March 4, 2026Worldcategory Philippines apprehends Filipino nationals suspected of spying for China Reuters logo LSEG Workspace World * Passengers wait at Muscat International Airport as the Sultanate of Oman facilitates the return of passengers to their home countries Oman's Muscat airport limits private jet flights, email says Middle Eastcategory * March 8, 2026 * 10:52 PM UTC * ago Oman's Muscat International Airport has asked private jet operators to avoid using the site for "additional flights," giving priority to government and commercial flights as fresh airspace closures hit the region's attempts to increase travel, according to an email seen by Reuters. * Opposition CHP holds rally for jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, in Istanbul categoryJailed Istanbul mayor faces trial amid crackdown on Turkey's opposition 10:01 PM UTC * 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos Middle EastcategoryQatar PM urges de-escalation amid Iran conflict, Sky News says 9:32 PM UTC * Mojtaba Khamenei visits Hezbollah's office in Tehran ANALYSISIran defies Trump, elevates Khamenei's son Mojtaba as successor 9:30 PM UTC * Mojtaba Khamenei visits Hezbollah's office in Tehran Middle EastcategoryIran names Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as new supreme leader, state media report 9:12 PM UTC Site Index Latest * Home * Authors * Topic Sitemap * Archive * Article Sitemap Media * Videos * Pictures * Graphics * Podcasts Latest * Home * Authors * Topic Sitemap * Archive * Article Sitemap Browse * World * Business * Markets * Sustainability * Legal * Breakingviews * Technology * Investigations * Sports * Science * Lifestyle Media * Videos * Pictures * Graphics * Podcasts About Reuters * About Reuters, opens new tab * Media Center, opens new tab * Advertise with Us, opens new tab * Careers, opens new tab * Reuters News Agency, opens new tab * Brand Attribution Guidelines, opens new tab * Reuters and AI, opens new tab * Reuters Leadership, opens new tab * Reuters Fact Check * Reuters Diversity Report, opens new tab * Commercial Disclosure (Japan), opens new tab Stay Informed * Download the App (iOS), opens new tab * Download the App (Android), opens new tab * Newsletters * Subscribe Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Follow Us * * * * * * LSEG Products * Workspace, opens new tab Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. * Data Catalogue, opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. * World-Check, opens new tab Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. * Advertise With Us, opens new tab * Advertising Guidelines * Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab * Cookies, opens new tab * Terms & Conditions * Privacy, opens new tab * Copyright, opens new tab * Digital Accessibility, opens new tab * Corrections * Data Disclosure and Sources, opens new tab * Site Feedback, opens new tab All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a list of exchanges and delays. * Cookies, opens new tab * Terms & Conditions * Privacy, opens new tab * Copyright, opens new tab * Digital Accessibility, opens new tab * Corrections * Data Disclosure and Sources, opens new tab * Site Feedback, opens new tab (c) 2026 Reuters. All rights reserved