Iran Postpones Leader's Funeral as Son Reportedly Chosen Successor Amid War

The public farewell ceremony for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, scheduled to begin in Tehran on Wednesday evening, has been postponed by authorities to a "more suitable time." The announcement comes amid intense regional conflict and significant political transition.

Western media outlets report that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, has been selected as the new Supreme Leader by an 88-member council of senior Shia clerics. Iranian authorities and state media have not yet officially confirmed this appointment.

On the fifth day of intensified hostilities involving Israel and the United States against Iran, the Israeli military conducted strikes targeting security force headquarters in Tehran and facilities belonging to the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that over 5,000 bombs have been dropped on Iran since the conflict began.

"Israeli Air Force fighter jets continue to reinforce air superiority across Iran, with a particular focus on the Tehran area," an IDF statement said. The military also released footage purporting to show a strike on an Iranian air defense system near the capital.

Iranian forces have retaliated with drone and missile launches targeting Israeli territory and U.S. Military bases located in other countries around the Persian Gulf. According to Qatar's Ministry of Defense, one Iranian missile aimed at Qatar was intercepted by air defense systems, while another struck the American Al Udeid Air Base.

The Human Rights Activist News Agency reports that more than a thousand civilians have been killed in Iran since the war began, including some of the country's officials.

Citing Israeli military assessments, The Times of Israel reports that operations against Iran are expected to continue for at least another one to two weeks. During this period, the IDF intends to strike thousands of additional targets within the country with the stated goal of weakening the Iranian regime and its military capabilities.

The Israeli army also speculates that Gulf states targeted by Iran during the conflict may potentially join a broader offensive campaign.