Iran has established a three-member interim Leadership Council following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The council consists of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. Simultaneously, the regional situation has escalated sharply due to massive strikes on the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations.
Al Jazeera reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the formation of the council during a state television broadcast. He confirmed that the interim leadership began its work on Sunday. This body will perform the Supreme Leader’s duties until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor.
Gulf Escalation and Attacks on the UAE
misThe Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) claimed it struck the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles. U.S. Central Command quickly denied these reports, labeling the IRGC’s claims as false. Military officials stated that the missiles did not come close to the carrier, which continues its operations in the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, Iran launched a massive combined attack against the United Arab Emirates. According to CNN, Iranian drone strikes killed three civilians and injured at least 58 others in the UAE. Local air defenses intercepted most of the 165 ballistic missiles and over 500 drones launched by Tehran.
French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on X that a French naval base in Abu Dhabi sustained minor damage.
“A hangar at our naval base, bordering the Emirati base, was damaged during a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi,” she stated.
No French personnel were injured, but troops remain on high alert.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that President Donald Trump launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. This decision followed increased pressure from Middle Eastern allies to neutralize Tehran’s influence. U.S. and Israeli strikes have targeted key Iranian infrastructure to encourage regime change.
