Iran Interim Leader Criticizes West’s “Miscalculation” After Khamenei’s Assassination

Tehran: According to Al Arabiya, in a significant televised address, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi appeared publicly for the first time as a member of Iran’s newly formed Interim Leadership Council and strongly criticized Western military actions.

Following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Arafi was officially appointed on Sunday as a legal member of the interim council. Addressing the nation and the international community from a televised platform, he spoke about the recent escalation in tensions.

In his speech, Arafi stated, “The United States and the Zionist regime have committed a wrong, misguided, and unjust action based on miscalculation.”

IRGC Launches “True Promise 4” Wave

Amid the heightened rhetoric, hostilities on the ground have intensified across the Middle East. According to Tasnim News Agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the launch of the tenth wave of “True Promise 4” operations on Monday. The operation reportedly targeted sites in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and a government complex in Tel Aviv.

In its ninth official statement, the IRGC’s Public Relations Department detailed the deployment of “Khaibar missiles” during this phase. It claimed that the strikes had “opened the gates of a great fire” across various occupied territories, marking a significant peak in the ongoing aerial campaign.

The IRGC also issued stern warnings to residents in the affected areas, urging them to immediately evacuate locations near military bases, security centers, and government facilities. Tasnim reported that the latest wave primarily focused on high-security and military sites in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and East Al-Quds. This followed an earlier IRGC declaration that “sirens in Israel will never fall silent,” indicating sustained alert conditions.

Israel’s Response: Operation ‘Roaring Lion’

In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a military campaign titled “Operation Roaring Lion,” claiming to have eliminated senior members of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. In a statement posted on X on Monday, the IDF confirmed that key figures within Tehran’s intelligence system were targeted.

Among those reported killed was Seyed Yahya Hamidi, identified as the “Deputy Intelligence Minister for Israel Affairs,” allegedly involved in coordinating operations targeting Jews, Western actors, and Iranian dissidents both domestically and abroad. The military also confirmed the death of Jalal Pour Hossein, described as the head of the espionage division.

According to the IDF, the mission was “guided by precise IDF intelligence,” and the officials were eliminated during the initial phase of Operation Roaring Lion. The IDF further stated that additional senior officials were killed and that the Israeli Air Force struck the ministry’s headquarters in Tehran.

Broader Regional Conflict

The latest escalation follows a large-scale confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28 with a major coordinated military assault. Under operations reportedly named “Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion,” US and Israeli forces carried out extensive air and missile strikes targeting key military sites, nuclear-related infrastructure, and leadership compounds within Iran.

Global leaders and international organizations are urging restraint and calling for de-escalation as fears of a broader regional war continue to rise. However, active hostilities persist, and there is currently no clear indication of an imminent resolution.