U.S. Intensifies Air Campaign Against Iran Following Leadership Change in Tehran

Conflict between the United States and Iran has entered a phase of rapid escalation following the transition of power in Tehran to Mojtaba Khamenei. In his first public address since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader maintained a defiant posture, vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and demanding the total withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region. In response, President Trump stated that the U.S. is prepared to escort oil tankers and "hit Iran very hard" in the coming week. Military operations have expanded significantly, with Defense Secretary Hegseth announcing that this coming Friday will see the "greatest number of U.S. strikes" yet. To date, combined U.S. and Israeli forces have reportedly struck more than 15,000 targets. Amidst the rising strikes, U.S. naval assets are repositioning; satellite imagery confirms the USS Abraham Lincoln has moved from 350km to over 1,100km away from the Iranian coast, taking a position near Salalah, Oman. On the diplomatic front, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is reportedly working to broker a new nuclear agreement between the two nations, according to TASS. While military pressure intensifies, regional players are also aligning, with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledging continued support to Saudi Arabia for regional stability. President Trump, meanwhile, has publicly questioned the status of Iran's new leadership during recent remarks, though his claims remain unverified.