Mojtaba Khamenei Defies U.S.-Israeli Coalition in First Address as Supreme Leader

In his first public address since the assassination of Ali Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared his intention to maintain the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. He further called on Middle Eastern nations to expel U.S. military forces. The statement comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel would continue its bombardment of Iran and Lebanon, explicitly threatening the new Iranian leader and stating that the region has entered a transformational period of "initiating" and "attacking." On the ground, the conflict has resulted in significant casualties on multiple fronts. A U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while supporting ongoing operations, leaving at least four U.S. service members dead and two others missing. In Tehran, Iranian media reported the death of a woman after explosions from a U.S.-Israeli coalition airstrike struck near a major "al-Quds Day" demonstration. The military campaign continues to focus on degrading Iranian air defense systems and internal security infrastructure. However, the Trump administration faces mounting domestic pressure as over 250 organizations have petitioned Congress to reject the Pentagon's $50 billion supplemental funding request for the theater, citing concerns over the escalating costs and scope of the war.