Khamenei son takes the reins; US shuts embassies in West Asia, drone sets its Dubai consulate on fire
The complicated ascension of Mojtaba Khamenei signals that Iran is preparing for a protracted conflict—because Mojtaba, although lacking in the religious credentials of his father, has the necessary backing of the military to seize the present. The intensity of Iranian retaliation has already taken Trump by surprise, but he is determined to achieve a change of regime in the Islamic Republic—but not a cakewalk. Who is propped up?
TEHRAN / DUBAI / WASHINGTON – Mar 4 (INS): The Assembly of Experts has elected
the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader
of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report, confirmed by multiple sources,
came early Wednesday, just days after the February 28 joint US-Israeli strikes
that killed his father.
(Meanwhile, US has shut embassies in West Asia and issued "Stay-in-Place"
orders to its citizens as Iranian missiles and drones are raining all across
the region. US consulate property in Dubai was ablaze following a drone attack
overnight.)
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The appointment of Mojtaba reportedly came under heavy pressure from the IRGC
(Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) to ensure continuity during the ongoing
conflict. Earlier, soon after Khamenei's killing, a three-member interim council
had taken his place. Seasoned cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was nominated as interim Supreme Leader.
While several members of the Khamenei family—including the late Supreme Leader’s
wife, daughter and grandchild—reportedly died in Saturday's strikes on their
compound by US-Israeli forces, Mojtaba was confirmed to have survived.
His appointment is considered highly controversial within Iran because it breaks
the Islamic Republic's long-standing stance against hereditary rule and because
Mojtaba lacks the high clerical rank (Grand Ayatollah) typically required for
the position.
Therefore, the selection of the 56-year-old Mojtaba marks a historic shift
toward dynastic succession, a concept the 1979 Revolution explicitly sought
to dismantle. Reports suggest the 88-member Assembly acted under intense pressure
from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which prioritized military
continuity over clerical seniority during the current state of war.
This sudden elevation stands in stark contrast to the late Ayatollah’s actions
just months ago. During the "Twelve-Day War" of 2025, while sheltering in a
fortified underground bunker amid decapitation threats, Ali Khamenei had reportedly
bypassed his son, naming three other senior clerics as potential successors
to avoid the appearance of a monarchy. However, with the senior clerical leadership
decimated in the recent strikes, the IRGC has moved to consolidate power behind
Mojtaba, the figure most closely aligned with their security apparatus.
US shuts embassies in West Asia, issues "Stay-in-Place" orders
As Tehran’s new leadership hardens its posture, the US State Department has
ordered the unprecedented closure of nearly all diplomatic missions across West
Asia.
Citing "serious safety risks" and imminent threats, Washington has suspended
operations in Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jeddah), Jordan
and Bahrain.
US citizens throughout the region have been issued a "DEPART NOW" directive.
For those unable to reach airports, many of which are now under military control
or closed to civilian traffic, the State Department has advised a total "shelter-in-place"
protocol.
Fire engulfs US consulate property in Dubai
Early Wednesday morning a drone strike sparked a significant fire at the US
Consulate in Dubai. According to the Dubai Media Office, the drone struck a
parking lot adjacent to the main chancellery building.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the incident, stating that while the
fire caused "minor material damage" to the perimeter, all diplomatic personnel
are accounted for and safe. This attack follows similar drone incursions at
the US Embassy in Riyadh and missile strikes targeting commercial hubs in the
UAE, signaling a widening retaliatory campaign by Iranian-aligned forces.
The ascension of Mojtaba Khamenei signals that Iran is preparing for a protracted
conflict. Unlike his father, Mojtaba lacks the religious credentials of a Grand
Ayatollah, but his deep ties to the intelligence services suggest a "military-first"
doctrine.
The incident has triggered a debate on social media whether the officer refused to take orders from a party leader or he was accused of any corruption, some netizens justifying the handling in either case, that Ratnakar was blocking public welfare work! It is true the Govt machinery has been the enemy Number One of the people of this country, existing for itself and for these politicians, for well over seven decades. India will never make an inch of progress - real progress, not make-believe-progress - unless and until this machinery is eliminated.
ANALYSIS: There have been cases of Britons going to Switzerland to get rid of a miserable life. Now once the House of Lords also passes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, terminally ill Britons can call it quits with the help of a medical practitioner here itself. But the measure when comes into practice, will have very serious social consequences, it is feared. There won't be comparisons, even as tropes in Latin American folklores. The worst case scenario is of those who are not terminally ill also trying to misuse the provision to leave this world early when life with dignity is not available. But that is, in fact, a political question and not a moral imbroglio!
The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.
Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.
A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924)
(Today's headlines )
Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”
Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.
PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.
Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people.
(Today's headlines )
"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...
Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.
Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.
As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.
"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.
Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.
ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!
What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America!
(Today's headlines )
PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).
In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.
THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.
The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.
Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See:
New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)
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