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Mojtaba Khamenei: The Rise of Iran’s New Supreme Leader

                      A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has emerged as Iran’s new supreme leader following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes. His appointment by the Assembly of Experts comes at a moment of profound crisis for Iran, as the country faces regional war, internal instability, and intense international scrutiny.  A Secretive Heir With Deep Establishment Ties Mojtaba, long considered influential behind the scenes, is a mid-ranking cleric with strong connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His political rise signals continuity of Iran’s hardline establishment, despite the country’s ideological discomfort with hereditary succession.  A Leader Shaped by Conflict and Loss His ascension comes amid the “Ramadan War,” during which he was reportedly wound...

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Wall Street Wobbles as Trump Threatens 10% Tariff on BRICS-Aligned Nations

U.S. stock futures slipped Monday morning as investors reacted to fresh trade tensions sparked by former President Donald Trump’s latest tariff warning. Trump announced that any country aligning with the “anti-American policies of BRICS” would face an additional 10% tariff, escalating concerns just days before a self-imposed July 9 deadline for finalizing trade deals.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dipped 0.1%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.5%, with tech stocks leading the retreat. Tesla shares tumbled 6% amid unrelated political headlines involving CEO Elon Musk.

The tariff threat follows a weekend BRICS summit where member nations, including China and India, criticized U.S. trade policies. Trump’s administration confirmed that while letters outlining tariff rates will be sent this week, the duties won’t take effect until August 1, giving negotiators a narrow window to strike deals.

So far, the U.S. has secured agreements with the U.K. and Vietnam, and is reportedly close to a framework with China. However, more than 100 countries remain in limbo, raising the stakes for global markets already trading near record highs.

With earnings season set to kick off later this week, investors are bracing for a volatile stretch as geopolitics and corporate performance collide.

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