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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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Market Turmoil Deepens as Iran Conflict Drives Energy Prices Higher

 

Energy markets surged while global stocks and bonds faltered amid escalating fears that the conflict involving Iran could drag on, disrupting vital oil and gas supplies. Oil and gas prices jumped sharply, with crude futures rising more than six percent and European natural gas prices spiking over 39 percent following attacks on key processing facilities and the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. 

Stock markets across major regions opened lower as investors reacted to the heightened geopolitical risk. U.S. equities initially fell sharply before stabilizing, while European and Asian markets broadly retreated. The uncertainty surrounding energy supply and rising inflation concerns also weighed heavily on bond markets, with traders offloading government debt as the conflict showed no signs of easing. 

The combination of surging energy prices, geopolitical instability, and inflationary pressure has left investors bracing for prolonged volatility. Many now fear that a drawn-out conflict could further strain global supply chains and slow economic growth, adding to the financial market turbulence already underway.

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