Mojtaba Khamenei succeeds father as Iran’s new Supreme Leader | BBC News

Mojtaba Khamenei has been named as Iran’s new Supreme Leader according to the country’s state media.

He replaces his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at his compound in Tehran in the first wave of US and Israeli strikes on the country.

The move by Iran’s clerical leadership comes after Donald Trump described Mojtaba Khamenei as an unacceptable choice, and said that he should decide who leads the country.

Members of the clerical body, who are responsible for selecting Iran’s highest authority, called on Iranians to rally behind Mojtaba Khamenei and preserve national unity.

The announcement came on another day of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. Oil depots in the capital Tehran were hit, covering the city in toxic black smoke.

Iran carried out further attacks on neighbouring countries and Gulf states. There are growing fears about the impact on the global economy. Oil and gas prices have soared since the start of the war, with economists warning of renewed inflation and a risk of a global economic downturn.

Israel also carried out more attacks in Lebanon, saying its targets were commanders of the Lebanese branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force. Lebanon’s government said almost 400 people have been killed since the latest Israeli assault on the country began, including more than 80 children.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lyse Doucet, Sarah Smith, Faisal Islam, Damian Grammaticas and Duncan Kennedy.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#BBCNews