O presidente Donald Trump diz-se disponível para conversar, enquanto os líderes que restam no Irão tentam organizar um conselho interino até à eleição de um novo líder supremo. Em Bruxelas, os 27 reuniram de emergência.
The United States and Israel have continued strikes against Iran, while Iranian leaders are working to establish an interim governing council following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The escalating conflict has prompted an emergency meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels as international concerns mount.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated he is open to negotiations with Iran’s novel leadership, though it remains unclear who those leaders will be. “They aim for to talk, and I agreed to talk, so I will talk with them. They should have done that before. They should have presented what was very practical and effortless to do before. They waited too long,” Trump said from his residence in Florida.
Simultaneously, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi – emerging as a potential key figure in the country’s leadership transition – spoke by phone with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, indicating Tehran is receptive to efforts to de-escalate tensions. According to a statement released Sunday by Oman’s Foreign Ministry, Tehran is open to “any serious efforts to reduce tension.” Oman has historically served as a mediator in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. And Iran, making it a logical channel for communication with the Trump administration.
However, mediation efforts could clash with the interests of Israel, which some observers believe is driving the strategy of attacks against the Iranian regime. Reports suggest Israel is not interested in missing an opportunity to pursue its primary objective: ending the rule of the Shiite religious establishment. This perspective may explain why, instead of discussing talks, the Israeli government convened 100,000 reservists on Sunday, signaling preparations for a prolonged war and potentially extending attacks beyond aerial strikes.
The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for a wider conflict. Israeli officials appear determined to prevent the Trump administration from repeating what they perceive as a past mistake – capturing a leader without dismantling the regime, as occurred in Venezuela.
Tehran Assesses Succession
Beyond Araqchi, another figure has emerged in the wake of Khamenei’s death: Ali Larijani. Larijani publicly announced Sunday that the regime will create a temporary leadership council, reinforcing the belief that he is a powerful figure within Iran’s security apparatus. He has been associated with key government issues, including nuclear negotiations, regional ties, and the suppression of internal unrest.
A member of Iran’s establishment and from a prominent clerical family, Larijani oversaw Iran’s efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with the United States, despite being sanctioned by Washington in January for allegedly ordering the violent crackdown on anti-government protests. This history may make the United States hesitant to accept Larijani as a future interlocutor, particularly given his previous accusations that the U.S. And Israel are attempting to dismantle Iran and his warning to “separatist groups” of a harsh response.
Appointed in August as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Larijani has held high-level positions throughout his career, demonstrating loyalty to Khamenei and a reputation for pragmatic relations with rival factions. He played a role in establishing contacts with Oman to prepare for negotiations with the United States and has made several trips to Moscow in recent months to discuss security ties.
Larijani, who led the SNSC for 20 years, resumed control of the Council after the June conflict. Some of his public statements on the nuclear issue have adopted a pragmatic tone: “In my opinion, this issue is solvable,” he told Omani state television last month. “If the Americans’ concern is that Iran will not move towards acquiring a nuclear weapon, that can be resolved.”
Born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1958, Larijani moved to Iran as a child and later earned a doctorate in philosophy. Several of his brothers have held important positions in the Foreign Ministry, and one of his daughters was dismissed from a teaching position at Emory University in the United States in January following protests from Iranian-American activists angered by his role in suppressing demonstrations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the regime’s plans to “continue the path of our beloved leader” Ali Khamenei. “Today, the Leadership Council Interin began its work,” he said in a televised message. The council will govern the country until the Assembly of Experts chooses a new supreme leader and appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as interim leader and member of the Guardian Council.
The Guardian Council of the Constitution is a constitutional oversight body composed of twelve jurists, six clerics specializing in religious law – appointed by the supreme leader – and six jurists, nominated by the head of the judiciary and approved by parliament.
Further Attacks on Sunday
On Sunday, both the United States and Israel launched further attacks against targets in Iran. Israel launched a new wave of attacks against the Iranian capital and other regions of the country. In retaliation, Iran responded with a barrage of missiles toward Israeli territory.
“The Air Force has begun at this moment a wide wave of attacks against targets of the Iranian terrorist regime in the heart of Tehran. Throughout the past day and night, the Air Force has carried out extensive attacks with the aim of achieving air superiority and paving the way towards Tehran,” the Israeli military stated in a release. Explosions were heard in Tehran, and Mashhad International Airport, in northeastern Iran, was hit by a missile.
Iran, in turn, launched a new wave of missiles against Israeli territory and also against other countries in the Middle East that host U.S. Military bases. Iranian officials reportedly targeted U.S. Interests in the region, rather than attacking the countries themselves. According to regional and U.S. Authorities, missiles and drones were launched against Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and military installations linked to the United Kingdom in Cyprus, in addition to targets near the Strait of Hormuz. Nine people were killed and 120 injured in these countries, excluding Israel.
“Yesterday (Saturday) Iranian missiles were fired at the United States and Israel, and it was painful. Today they will be fired even more painfully,” Ali Larijani stated. Air raid sirens sounded and explosions were reported in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Authorities announced the deaths of six Israelis in Sunday’s Iranian attacks, bringing the total to ten, with dozens more injured; on the Iranian side, 201 were killed and around 750 wounded. Three U.S. Military personnel were also killed during military operations, according to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom).
Trump claimed the United States destroyed nine Iranian naval vessels and a significant portion of the Navy’s headquarters: “I just was informed that we destroyed and sank nine Iranian naval vessels, some of which were relatively large and important,” he said on social media. “In another attack, we destroyed a large portion of their naval headquarters.” Iran attempted to retaliate unsuccessfully, targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, but the missiles “didn’t come close,” according to a Centcom post on social media. “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles didn’t come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of Centcom’s relentless campaign to defend the American people, eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had claimed the Lincoln was hit by four ballistic missiles. Trump also said 48 leaders of the Iranian regime were killed over the weekend, including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Emergency Meeting in Brussels
European Union foreign ministers held emergency talks on the war in Iran, addressing energy concerns and citizens abroad. The Portuguese government received more than forty expatriation requests on Sunday. The session, held via videoconference, was opened by the High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, with the participation of all member states. According to the Euronews agency, ministers discussed the political dimensions of recent events in the Middle East and sought a common position – supporting the initiative of the United States and Israel to some extent, but also calling for restraint and a swift return to dialogue.
Prior to the meeting, ambassadors held a preparatory meeting of Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives, the main preparatory body of the Council of the European Union, composed of the ambassadors of the member states to the EU), expressing solidarity with the Iranian people and concern for respect for international law. The ambassadors also expressed support for the region in general and called for a de-escalation of regional tensions.
On Saturday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, issued a joint statement warning against further escalation of tensions in the region. Von der Leyen has scheduled a meeting of the Security College for Monday.
