Ex-president Rouhani congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on leadership

Israel’s military on Monday accused the Islamic Republic of firing a cluster bomb at the Israeli city of Rishon Lezion on Sunday night, saying the attack targeted civilians.

“Last night, the Iranian regime fired a cluster bomb at the Israeli city of Rishon Lezion—damaging multiple areas including a children’s playground,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X.

The US military "is getting the job DONE," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday.

"Every single day this regime in Iran has less missiles and less launchers. The factories work less, and their navy is being eviscerated."

"The world is going to be a safer and a better place when this mission is accomplished," he added.

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was fully prepared to respond to any attacks against its oil and nuclear facilities.

“We know the US is plotting against our oil and nuclear sites in hopes of containing huge inflationary shock,” Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

“Iran is fully prepared. And we, too, have many surprises in store,” he added.

US President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” with Mojtaba Khamenei replacing his father as Iran’s new supreme leader, according to an interview published by the New York Post.

“Not going to tell you,” Trump said when asked about his plans for the younger Khamenei. “Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him,” he told the newspaper.

Asked about reports the United States could deploy ground troops to Iran, Trump told the newspaper: “We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it.”

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani said security in the Strait of Hormuz was unlikely while war continues, responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about reopening the waterway.

“It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region, especially if it is designed by parties that were not far from supporting this war and contributing to fueling it,” Larijani said in a post on X.

His remarks came after Macron said France was preparing a defensive mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and would send two frigates to the Red Sea.