Why Iran's new supreme leader could intensify the war

Could Iran’s new leader be worse than the old one? On the 10th
day of the US-Israeli war with Iran, Roland looks at why
IRGC-favourite Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen as the new
supreme leader to take over from his assassinated father and what
it means for the regime.


Plus, Venetia gets a view from the Gulf about the growing oil
crisis, fears over dwindling interceptor missile stocks and how
the war is dragging in countries there.


CONTRIBUTORS:


Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey


Roland Oliphant, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator and co-host
@RolandOliphant


Sascha Bruchmann, IISS Research Fellow for Defence and Military
Analysis


CONTENT REFERENCED:


David Blair: New supreme leader shows folly of Trump’s war


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/09/new-iran-supreme-leader-folly-trump-iran-war/


Iran has already made its first big miscalculation of the war


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/09/iran-first-big-miscalculation-war/


Iran war, day ten: Everything you need to know


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/09/iran-war-day-ten-everything-you-need-to-know/


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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