On the fifth day of conflict in the Middle East, Iran announced the postponement of the wake for the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, killed in an attack by Israel and the USA in the early stages of the war. The ceremony was scheduled for this Wednesday (4), but was canceled hours before for “infrastructure readjustment” due to the large number of participants. There is still no new date for the funeral.
After Khamenei’s death, his succession seemed uncertain, but it emerged this Wednesday that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive and is the favorite to take power in Iran. After Israel’s attack on the Assembly of Experts, it was unknown whether possible successors had been killed.
The United States carried out a submarine attack on an Iranian military ship off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Continues after advertising
Israel also attacked targets in Tehran and a residential complex in Baalbeck, Lebanon. The country later issued an evacuation warning for southern Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait claimed to have been attacked by Iran on this fifth day of war in the region.
Numbers:
- According to Iranian authorities, the number of deaths in the country reached 1,045;
- At least 87 died in the attack on the Iranian ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, 32 were rescued alive and another 61 are missing;
- Four people died in the Israeli attack on Lebanon and six others were injured.
Israel threatens
With the news that Khamenei’s son is the favorite to take power in Iran, Israel’s Defense Minister stated that the next Iranian supreme leader will be assassinated, regardless of who is chosen.
“Any leader elected by the Iranian terrorist regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threatening the USA, the free world, the countries of the region and repressing the Iranian people, will be the target of assassination. It doesn’t matter his name, nor where he hides”, published Israel Katz on his social networks.
US guarantees superiority over Iran
In turn, American President Donald Trump commented on the uncertainty of Iran’s participation in the World Cup, which will have the USA as one of its hosts. “I really don’t care [se o Irã participar]. I think Iran is a very defeated country. They are on the brink of collapse,” Trump said in an interview with Politico.
Another American official who spoke out this Wednesday was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that the US is winning against Iran and can fight for as long as necessary. “Our air defenses and those of our allies have plenty of room for maneuver. We can easily sustain this fight for as long as necessary,” Hegseth said.
Continues after advertising
Hegseth also said that the US killed an Iranian official who headed a unit responsible for an alleged plot to assassinate President Donald Trump. Finally, the American secretary stated that the United States is investigating the attack on an elementary school in Iran that left 168 people dead, most of them children. He, however, did not provide any further information.
Iranian officials deny negotiations
The Iranian government has denied that it is in contact with the CIA, the US intelligence agency, in secret negotiations to end the conflict. The information had been published by the American newspaper The New York Times. “Pure falsehood and psychological warfare,” said a source at Iran’s Intelligence Ministry.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has said it has “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz. The location is strategic for the transport of oil and, therefore, a growing focus of tensions.
Continues after advertising
In another thread, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani that the Iranian missile attacks that hit the country were actually aimed at US interests. Qatar’s representative, however, “categorically rejected” the statement and called for an end to Iranian attacks.
Tension between USA x Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Trump of “playing Russian roulette” with the fate of millions of people. Sánchez had previously criticized American and Israeli action in the Middle East.
The Spaniard’s demonstration generated a reaction from the USA, which threatened to cut off all trade with the European country. The threat prompted European leaders to speak out in support of Spain. The White House later declared that the Spanish government had agreed to cooperate with the American Armed Forces.
Continues after advertising
