State of play: what we know on the tenth day of the US and Israel war against Iran

Update information on where we are in the regional conflict

Iranians are being led to pledge loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei after he was named Iran’s new supreme leader. Now, attention turns to how he will guide Iran through one of the biggest crises in its modern history – and what his first step will be.

The economic fallout from the war has deepened, causing global oil prices to surpass $100 per barrel, the first time the mark has been surpassed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The rise was triggered by concerns that the conflict will lead to prolonged restrictions on the flow of oil around the world.

Israel’s attacks on Iran’s energy resources and fuel storage sites have brought the war into a “new phase”, warned a senior Iranian official, who threatened retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across the region.

Here’s what you need to know on the tenth day of the conflict.

What are the main headlines?

• Khamenei Dynasty: Iran’s main power centers, including the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), quickly rallied behind Mojtaba Khamenei after he was chosen to succeed his dead father, Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader. The IRGC said it was ready to “completely obey and sacrifice their lives” for him. US President Donald Trump said last week that the choice of the younger Khamenei would be “unacceptable”. Analysts say Mojtaba’s rise suggests a continuation of his father’s hard-line policies.
• Economic shocks: The IMF director warned of the risks of global inflation and stated that her advice to politicians is to prepare for “the unthinkable”. G7 finance ministers plan to meet this Monday to discuss the possible joint release of strategic oil reserves. Asian markets fell while oil futures rose — but Trump dismissed concerns, calling rising oil costs “a very small price to pay.” South Korea will impose its first fuel limit in nearly 30 years as global jitters deepen.
• Regional attacks continue: Israel said it had launched attacks against Beirut and Iran, while Tehran announced the launch of missiles. Gulf states reported interceptions and attacks overnight, including Bahrain, which said at least 32 people were injured in an Iranian drone attack on a residential area. Bahrain’s national oil company, BAPCO, said its operations were affected after a video showed a large fire in the industrial zone of the facility in Riffa, and later declared force majeure on its operations.
• Attack the school: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US is still investigating an attack on an Iranian elementary school that, according to Iranian state media, killed at least 168 children. His comments came after a new video appeared to confirm that a US airstrike targeted a naval base near the school, adding to the body of evidence contradicting Trump’s recent claims that he blamed Iran.
• Personnel instructed to leave: the US State Department has ordered non-essential diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia — a reflection of the risks facing US personnel as the conflict deepens. A US service member has died after suffering injuries during an attack last week in the country.

What is happening in the region?

• Public commitment: Iran announced a national meeting on Monday to pledge loyalty to the new supreme leader. Members of the people were invited to gather across the country at 3pm local time, Iranian state media reported.
• “New phase” of the war: A senior Iranian official told CNN there is no prospect of an immediate end to the conflict. And he added that Israel’s attacks on oil and fuel depots had brought the war to a “new phase.” The official threatened retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure, raising concerns about possible further disruptions to regional oil and gas facilities.
• Stay or go?: A Tehran resident said his family was divided over whether to leave the city, saying people were “under a lot of pressure.” The Israeli attacks on fuel depots on Saturday night were “the most intense bombings since the start of the war”, he added.
• “Save our girls”: Iran’s women’s national football team is at the center of growing calls for its departure from Australia, where it is competing in the Women’s Asian Cup, to be blocked for fear of persecution in Iran.

The latest news from the USA

• Energy prices: President Donald Trump and senior officials in his administration are trying to calm concerns about rising gasoline prices. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the rising costs at gas stations as “a short-term disruption.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Trump to tap the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest emergency oil stockpile, in an effort to lower energy prices.
• Terms of surrender: Trump said he will decide, together with Israel, when the war will end. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be part of the decision, but Washington will have the final say, Trump said in an interview with The Times of Israel. Defense Secretary Hegseth also declared that the US and Trump will define “the terms of surrender” with Iran, without giving details.