A senior Iranian official has warned that Tehran is prepared for a prolonged conflict with the United States, as tensions escalate on the tenth day of the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
The warning came during an exclusive interview with one media source on the same day Iranians were urged to publicly pledge allegiance to the country’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
With no clear path toward de-escalation, the conflict’s economic consequences are rapidly spreading across the globe.
Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, raising concerns about global energy supply disruptions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump delivered mixed signals regarding the war’s progress. In one interview, he suggested the conflict was nearing its end.
However, he later told House Republicans that “we haven’t won enough,” indicating the fighting may continue.
POWER SHIFT IN IRAN
Iran’s political and military institutions, including the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have rallied behind Mojtaba Khamenei following his appointment as supreme leader after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump criticized the move, describing it as a “big mistake.”
Political analysts say Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership signals the continuation of his father’s hardline stance. Russian President Vladimir Putin also reaffirmed Moscow’s support in a message sent to Tehran.
When asked if the new Iranian leader could become a military target, Israel’s foreign minister declined to provide a direct answer, saying only that observers should “wait and see.”
GLOBAL ECONOMIC SHOCK
|Governments worldwide are scrambling to respond to what some policymakers are calling the largest oil market disruption in modern history. Financial markets in Asia and Europe dropped sharply as oil futures climbed.
Despite the concerns, Trump downplayed the economic impact, saying the spike in oil prices is “a very small price to pay.”
He also said the United States is considering control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Countries are already taking emergency measures. South Korea announced it would impose a fuel price cap for the first time in nearly three decades, while Pakistan introduced strict austerity policies aimed at conserving fuel supplies.
Iran has warned that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could be attacked, although it reportedly indicated that vessels from countries expelling US and Israeli diplomats may pass freely.
IRAN SIGNALS READINESS FOR PROLONGED WAR
Kamal Kharazi, a senior adviser on foreign policy to Iran’s supreme leader, told the media source that Iran is prepared for a long confrontation with Washington.
He rejected the possibility of immediate diplomacy and warned that the conflict could inflict economic hardship globally.
Kharazi also suggested that Iran may continue military operations targeting countries along the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military said it would act against anyone posing a threat to the country, though it did not confirm whether Mojtaba Khamenei is considered a potential target.
ATTACKS ACROSS THE REGION
Military exchanges across the region continued overnight. Israel reported launching strikes in Beirut and within Iran, while Tehran announced new missile launches.
Turkey said NATO air defense systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile after it entered Turkish airspace. Gulf nations also reported air defense interceptions.
In Bahrain, authorities said at least 32 people were injured after an Iranian drone struck a residential area.
The country’s national oil company, BAPCO, reported operational disruptions after a fire broke out at its industrial complex in Riffa and later declared force majeure on its operations.
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RISE
The death toll from the conflict has continued to climb, with more than 1,700 fatalities reported across the Middle East.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 1,205 civilians in Iran have been killed during joint US-Israeli strikes.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 486 people have died in Israel’s military campaign there.
Two Israeli sources indicated that Israel is considering expanding operations deeper into southern Lebanon.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SCHOOL STRIKE
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is investigating a strike that hit an Iranian elementary school, killing at least 168 children, according to Iranian state media.
The investigation follows the release of new footage suggesting the intended target may have been a nearby naval base, contradicting earlier statements by Trump that blamed Iran for the incident.
DIPLOMATIC EVACUATIONS
As tensions rise, the US State Department has ordered non-essential diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia due to growing security risks.
More than two dozen charter flights have already evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East. One US service member also died after being injured during an attack last week in the region.
SITUATION INSIDE IRAN
Iranian state media reported large public rallies across the country where thousands gathered to pledge loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei.
A senior Iranian official said Israel’s attacks on oil and fuel depots have pushed the war into a “new phase,” warning that Tehran could retaliate against regional energy infrastructure.
In Tehran, residents are reportedly divided over whether to flee the capital. One local resident told the media source that Israeli bombardments targeting fuel facilities over the weekend were the heaviest since the conflict began.
IRANIAN ATHLETES SEEK ASYLUM
Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have reportedly sought asylum after leaving their team hotel in Australia during the Women’s Asian Cup tournament.
According to sources, the players fear persecution if they return to Iran. Australia’s Home Affairs minister said the athletes would be granted humanitarian visas.
US POLITICAL RESPONSE
In the United States, officials are attempting to calm concerns over rising fuel prices, which have climbed by nearly 50 cents per gallon, about a 17% increase, since the war began.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the increase as a temporary disruption. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the administration to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest emergency supply, to help stabilize energy prices.
Trump also said the decision on when the war will end will be made jointly with Israel, though Washington would ultimately have the final say. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government is ready to resume negotiations with Israel, but has not yet received a response.
SEVENTH US SERVICE MEMBER KILLED
The US military confirmed that Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, has become the seventh American service member killed in the war. He died Sunday from injuries sustained a week earlier at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.