NAIROBI, Kenya (IP)
Israel warned on Sunday it would pursue any successor to Iran’s supreme leader as thick black smoke smothered parts of Tehran after missile strikes ignited fires at major oil storage depots in the Iranian capital.
The warning came as Iran’s clerical body responsible for choosing the country’s next supreme leader said it had reached a decision on a successor following the death of Ali Khamenei, though the name has not yet been publicly announced.
In a message posted in Farsi on social media, the Israeli military said it would continue pursuing any figure chosen to replace Khamenei and anyone involved in appointing the new leader, signaling a further escalation in the rapidly widening conflict between Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, large columns of smoke rose over Tehran after missiles struck oil storage facilities, setting off massive fires and prompting warnings about toxic pollution.
Iran’s Red Crescent urged residents to stay indoors and warned that rainfall could mix with contaminants from the burning depots, potentially creating hazardous conditions.
The strikes marked one of the most significant attacks on civilian industrial infrastructure in the conflict so far.
Tehran, a city of roughly 10 million people, has seen its skies darkened by smoke from the burning fuel facilities.
The broader conflict has expanded across the region.
Iranian missiles and drones have targeted Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, damaging infrastructure and causing casualties.
Many of the projectiles were intercepted by regional air defenses.
Israel has also launched strikes in Lebanon aimed at Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces, with Lebanese authorities reporting dozens of deaths in recent attacks.
International pressure for de-escalation is growing as the war risks pulling more countries into the conflict and disrupting global energy markets.
Both sides have signaled they are preparing for a prolonged confrontation, raising fears of a broader regional war.
