March 11, 2026 — The echoes of the ongoing Iran war are now being felt around the world. What began as a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign on February 28, 2026, has escalated rapidly after the assassination of Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ten days later, Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader — a move immediately rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump’s long-standing strategy has been clear: use the cover of war to engineer regime change and install a government in Tehran that is friendly to Washington. American and Israeli strikes first targeted Iran’s top leadership, killing Khamenei senior. With fighting still raging, Trump publicly dismissed the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable” and branded it hereditary rule, stating bluntly that “no Iranian leader will survive without America’s approval.”
Iran already faced deep internal political divisions. Analysts say Trump’s goal is to exploit those rifts, spark a civil war-like situation, and ultimately force a complete change of power. On the 12th day of the conflict, global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel as attacks spread across the Middle East. Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone strikes on Israeli and U.S. targets.
In this tense atmosphere, Iran’s top security officials — closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Supreme National Security Council — issued a stern warning to the nation. They urged every citizen, political faction, and military unit to remain united, declaring that any internal conflict would only help the enemy. “The survival of Iran’s sovereignty and the Islamic Republic demands total solidarity,” the statement read.
Trump has made it clear that only he and Israel will decide when the war ends. He has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” Meanwhile, the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei — known for his close ties to the IRGC — is expected to maintain a hard-line stance, according to regional experts.
The conflict is already disrupting global energy supplies, shipping lanes, and financial markets. While Iran is simultaneously fighting an external war and trying to hold the country together internally, the world is watching closely to see whether Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership can prevent the very collapse Trump appears determined to achieve.