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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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U.S.–Spain Tensions Rise as Trump Threatens Trade Halt Over Military Base Dispute

 

The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, speaks during the official opening dinner of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, on 1 March 2026, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.


U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply escalated tensions with Spain, warning that he may halt all trade between the two countries after Madrid refused to allow the U.S. military to use Spanish bases for operations linked to strikes on Iran. Trump described Spain as “terrible” in its cooperation and said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings” with the country. 

The dispute stems from Spain’s decision to block U.S. access to the jointly operated Rota and Morón bases for missions tied to the Iran conflict. The U.S. has already relocated several aircraft from these facilities following the refusal. Trump’s remarks also revived longstanding friction over Spain’s resistance to increasing its NATO defense spending, a point he emphasized while speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has downplayed the threat, criticizing the broader U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as a “disaster” and signaling that Spain will not shift its position under pressure. As a member of the European Union, Spain’s trade policy is tied to the bloc, meaning any unilateral U.S. embargo would likely trigger wider diplomatic complications with other EU nations.

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