Iran’s Next Supreme Leader, and the New Lucrative Pardon Industry for Rich Offenders
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From The New York Times, it's The Headlines. I'm Traci Mumford. Today's Monday, March 9th. Here's what we're covering. The war with Iran has now entered its second week. Here are three key things The Times is tracking this morning. The country has named a new supreme leader, who both Israel and the U.S. have denounced. Attacks have continued in Iran and across the Gulf, hitting civilian infrastructure that's raised concerns about a potential water crisis. And the price of oil has surged above $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly four years. To start, Iran's top clerics have named Mujtaba Khamenei to lead the country. He's the 56-year-old son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes last Saturday.
He was groomed for the position and has strong military and political connections. Though at one point, his father had indicated to his close advisors that he didn't want his son to succeed him. according to three Iranian officials familiar with the selection process. The Islamic Revolution in 1979 was about toppling a monarchy and promising to end the hereditary transfer of power. His selection, despite that, suggests that those high up in the Iranian government have closed ranks at a time of crisis and are looking for continuity for the regime. Many opposed to the government have rejected the choice. Some people could be heard chanting death to Moshe Taba from their windows after it was announced.
At the same time, Israel has threatened to kill whoever takes the position. And President Trump warned this weekend that the next supreme leader, quote, is not going to last long without the approval of the United States. Second. Over the weekend, the U.S. and Israel hit hundreds of targets in Iran, with U.S. Central Command warning civilians in the country to stay inside. Israel went after several Iranian fuel depots, turning the sky in Tehran dark with thick, billowing smoke. And water desalination plants came under attack in Iran and Bahrain. Iran's foreign minister accused the US of striking the one there, affecting the water supply for more than two dozen villages. The US has denied that. Bahrain says its desalination plant was hit by an Iranian drone, as Iran's been attacking Gulf states, which are close allies of the US.
One expert on the Middle East said the plants, which turn seawater into drinking water, are essential lifelines for tens of millions of people. And, quote, striking them risks turning a military confrontation into a direct threat to civilian survival.
Who has been named Iran's new supreme leader?
And lastly... We want it back below $3 a gallon, and it will be again before too long. Well, what do you mean by too long? How much longer?
The ongoing conflict has driven up the price of fuel fast. Gas prices are now up 17 percent. And last night, oil prices surged past $100 a barrel. The Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, said on CNN that the U.S. is working on securing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas that's been choked by the conflict.
And that'll take some time. But again, worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months.
In an interview with Reuters, President Trump suggested he was prioritizing military operations over concerns about prices. He said, quote, they'll drop very rapidly when this is over. And if they rise, they rise. But this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit. In the U.S., internal government data indicates that after months of high-profile aggressive immigration raids, the Trump administration has slightly scaled back arrests, at least for now.
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