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U.S. Officials Say Iran’s New Supreme Leader Gravely Wounded Amid Escalating Conflict

Protesters hold posters of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, during a protest marking al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), after Friday prayers at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei , was seriously wounded and likely disfigured during the opening phase of U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth described Iran’s leadership as “desperate and hiding,” asserting that Khamenei has gone underground following injuries sustained in the attacks.  Reports from multiple outlets indicate that Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the conflict began, fueling speculation about the severity of his condition. Some accounts suggest he may have suffered catastrophic injuries, including the loss of a limb and a possible coma, after an airstrike that also killed members of his family.  U.S....
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Iraq Restarts Kurdish Oil Exports to Turkey After Years-Long Standoff

The Iraqi-Turkish pipeline is seen in Zakho district of the Dohuk Governorate of the Iraqi Kurdistan province.

Crude oil exports from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkey have resumed after a two-and-a-half-year suspension, marking a breakthrough in one of the country’s most contentious energy disputes.

The restart began early Saturday morning, with oil once again flowing through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port, according to Iraq’s Oil Ministry. Officials confirmed that operations were running smoothly without technical issues.

The resumption follows an interim agreement between Iraq’s federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and international oil companies. Under the deal, between 180,000 and 190,000 barrels per day will be exported, with the potential to rise to 230,000 barrels. A portion of revenues will be placed in an escrow account to ensure fair distribution among producers and the state oil marketer SOMO.

The United States had pressed for a resolution, viewing the deal as a stabilizing step for Iraq’s economy and a boost to global oil supplies. The move also comes as OPEC+ members seek to expand market share amid shifting global energy dynamics.

The pipeline had been shut since March 2023, when an international arbitration ruling ordered Turkey to compensate Iraq for unauthorized Kurdish exports. The new arrangement is seen as a compromise that could ease tensions between Baghdad and Erbil while addressing outstanding debts owed to oil companies.

Analysts say the agreement could strengthen Iraq’s position within OPEC and provide much-needed revenue, though long-term stability will depend on how revenue-sharing disputes are managed in the months ahead.


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