For the first time, America introduces advanced weapons into its war against Iran.

Reports issued by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday stated that the United States used a number of its modern combat systems for the first time during ongoing military operations against Iran, in a move that reflects a shift in the nature of warfare and the military technology used on the battlefields.

According to reports, “recent operations have seen the use of more than 20 different US military systems, including modern weapons that underwent their first real test in combat conditions.”

One of the most prominent of these systems is the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a surface-to-surface ballistic missile launched from HIMARS platforms, with a range of between 400 and 500 kilometers, exceeding the range of the ATACMS missile, which reaches about 300 kilometers. The missile is characterized by high accuracy and a warhead weighing between 90 and 200 kilograms, in addition to a high speed of about 6,000 kilometers per hour.

The United States also used for the first time in this war “low-cost LUCAS attack drones, which cost about $35,000 each and have a range of about 800 kilometers with the ability to fly for up to six hours before hitting the target. These drones were used to target Iranian military installations, including radar sites and ballistic missile platforms.”

In the field of air defense, the US military has resorted to “using Coyote drones to intercept attack drones instead of expensive Patriot missiles, as the newer versions rely on technologies such as electromagnetic pulses to disable swarms of drones without detonating them.”

The upgraded version of the Tomahawk missile (Tomahawk Block V) also entered combat use for the first time, as it was launched by US Navy ships to target and track Iranian ships at sea. The missile features a special coating that reduces its radar signature and enhances its ability to remain stealthy during flight.

These developments indicate that “the introduction of these advanced systems represents a field test of modern American military technology, at a time when precision missiles, drones and low-cost solutions are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare.”

Shafaq.com

Reuters: Mojtaba Khamenei suffered minor injuries during the war and has been out of the public eye.

A senior Israeli official told Reuters on Wednesday that an Israeli intelligence assessment indicates that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was slightly wounded in the US-Israeli air war against his country, which explains his lack of public appearances.

The official added that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard imposed the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, considering him a “more flexible version” of his father and capable of supporting the policies of this conservative force.

Reuters quoted three high-level Iranian sources, one a former reformist official and another with knowledge of internal affairs, as saying that Khamenei’s selection could lead to a more aggressive stance abroad and increased internal repression.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said last week that any leader appointed by the current Iranian leadership would be “a clear target for elimination.”

Earlier, Reuters reported that an Iranian state television presenter appeared to confirm rumors about Mojtaba’s injury, describing him as a “Janbaz” or “wounded veteran” of the “Ramadan War,” a term Iran uses for the current conflict.

The son of the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Wednesday that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “fine and in good health” despite being injured during the war.

Iran had announced the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28 in Tehran.

In contrast, US President Donald Trump said he would not accept Mojtaba (56 years old) taking office and demanded that Iran surrender unconditionally.

Shafaq.com

Al-Saadi: The new government may be formed after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Former MP Baqir al-Saadi confirmed on Tuesday that the formation of the next Iraqi government may take place after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Al-Saadi told Al-Maalomah, “Despite the current situation in the region, the aggression against Iran, and the repeated targeting of Popular Mobilization Forces units that resulted in martyrs and wounded, efforts to proceed with forming the government are ongoing and it is taking upon itself the management of these files and the endeavor to address the economic and financial crises.”

He added that “expectations indicate that after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, we may witness the formation of a new government, especially since all political forces have become aware of the seriousness of the situation and the need to join forces to resolve the outstanding issues.”

He explained that “the next two weeks could be crucial in finding clear paths to resolve the presidential issue, and then moving to the final stage of tasking the candidate of the largest bloc with forming the cabinet,” stressing that “political meetings in Baghdad are ongoing and may yield more positive results in the coming period.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Khaikani: The coming days will witness the birth of the new government and the finalization of its cabinet.

MP Abdullah al-Khaikani announced on Tuesday that the political transition is nearing its end, confirming that the coming days will witness the formation of the new government following advanced understandings between the political forces.

Al-Khaikani told Al-Maalouma that “negotiations have reached their final stages, and there is a national consensus on the need to expedite the formation of the government to confront the current challenges,” indicating that “the timeline points to resolving this issue within the next few days.”

He added that “the anticipated government will be obligated to implement a service and security program that meets the aspirations of the Iraqi people,” noting that “the Parliament is awaiting the arrival of the ministerial program and the names of the candidates to hold a session to vote and grant confidence.”

Al-Khaikani explained that “there is a determination on the part of the national forces to overcome the remaining technical differences to ensure the formation of a strong government capable of enforcing the law and restoring the state’s prestige,” pointing out that “the political stalemate has been broken, and the focus is now on fulfilling the constitutional requirements.”

Almaalomah.me

“Within a year”… The Central Bank of Iraq sells more than $80 billion

The Central Bank of Iraq revealed on Monday that its sales of hard currency amounted to more than $80 billion during the year 2025.

The bank stated in a statistic seen by Shafaq News Agency that its sales of hard currency during 2025 amounted to $80 billion and 363 million.

He added that sales were distributed between foreign remittances amounting to $73 billion and 943 million, international settlements amounting to $3 billion and 649 million, as well as cash sales amounting to $2 billion and 771 million.

He pointed out that the total of these sales during 2025, amounting to $80 billion and 363 million, increased by 3.88% compared to the same period in 2024, which amounted to $77 billion and 652 million, indicating that his purchases of foreign currency from the Ministry of Finance during 2025 amounted to $63 billion and 731 million.

Shafaq.com

JP Morgan: Iraq has the lowest oil storage capacity among Gulf countries

Data released by JPMorgan on Monday showed that Iraq has one of the lowest oil storage capacities among Gulf countries compared to other countries in the region.

According to the data, Saudi Arabia leads the Gulf countries in storage capacity, with a capacity of about 65 days in the event of redirecting exports and 36 days without redirection, which gives it great flexibility in managing oil supplies.

Next comes Qatar with a storage capacity of about 20 days, followed by the United Arab Emirates with a capacity of up to 19 days with the possibility of redirecting exports and 16 days without that, then Kuwait with a storage capacity of approximately 14 days.

In contrast, Iraq ranks last among the aforementioned countries with a storage capacity estimated at only about 6 days, reflecting the limited nature of its oil storage infrastructure compared to the rest of the Gulf countries.

These figures show a clear disparity in oil storage capacities among the countries of the region, with some countries having a wider infrastructure that allows them to keep larger quantities of oil for longer periods.

Shafaq.com

First official Iraqi comment on rising oil prices

On Monday, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the financial and economic advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, commented on the significant rise in global oil prices against the backdrop of the military conflict in the region.

Saleh told Shafaq News Agency that the oil administration in West Asian countries, particularly the Arabian Gulf region, is facing two major shocks as a result of geopolitical shifts in fossil resource production areas.

He explained that the first shock is positive and is represented by the rise in global oil prices to levels exceeding $100 per barrel, which enhances oil revenues and the financial capabilities of producing countries, while the second shock is represented by logistical and geopolitical restrictions that affect the ability of those countries to market their oil, especially with the risks associated with the passage of exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

He added that the global oil market is witnessing something like a “zero-sum game” among producers, as some countries have alternative export outlets that do not depend on the Strait of Hormuz, which gives them greater flexibility in marketing and benefiting from higher prices, while other countries – including Iraq – face greater risks because their exports are linked to this vital maritime passage.

Saleh explained that about 20% of global oil demand may be disrupted as a result of geopolitical tensions in the Gulf states, noting that Iraq faces challenges related to limited export outlets in the short term.

He pointed out that continued demand from China, which is the largest importer of Iraqi oil at about one million barrels per day, contributes to supporting public revenues and helps the government meet its financial obligations, including servicing the public debt.

Saleh noted that there are indications of a possible relative breakthrough in the energy supply crisis, including reports that the United States has pledged to provide a group insurance policy for oil tankers to encourage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and reduce the risks associated with the war.

He concluded by saying that the return of oil flows to their normal levels may lead to a halt in the global price surge and perhaps the start of a gradual correction phase, as the market approaches a new balance between supply and demand, stressing that the stability of global oil demand is closely linked to global economic growth and the stability of the production and marketing environment.

Shafaq.com

Following the selection of the new Iranian Supreme Leader… Who is Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei?

On Sunday, Iran witnessed the selection of Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the country, succeeding his father who was assassinated in Tehran days earlier in an American-Israeli operation.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced the selection of Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader.

Who is Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei?

Mr. Mojtaba was born in the city of Mashhad in 1969, and he is the second son of Mr. Ali Khamenei, may God sanctify his secret.

He received his secondary education at the Alavi Religious School in Tehran, and in 1999 he moved to the city of Qom, one of the most important centers of Shiite studies in the world, to continue his religious studies at the seminary.

He continued his studies in Qom to become a religious scholar. Among his teachers there were Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani and Sayyid Mohammad Baqir Kharrazi. He taught religious sciences in the Qom seminary.

In addition to his studies, teaching, and seminary activities, he maintained close relationships with a number of religious authorities and scholars in Qom and Mashhad.

He has extensive knowledge of major executive affairs in the country and relationships with senior officials, in addition to broad studies in multiple fields and holding sessions with elites to discuss solutions to governance issues, such as economic stability, commodity prices, rapid housing, agriculture, artificial intelligence and support for major scientific projects.

Burathanews.com

Iraq recovers more than nine million dollars from frozen assets in Italy

The Iraqi Funds Recovery Fund announced its success in recovering more than nine million dollars of Iraqi funds that had been frozen in Italy. This latest achievement reflects the effectiveness of the Fund’s legal and diplomatic efforts in recovering these assets. Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Directors, stated that the Fund received information about Iraqi government accounts held at UniCredit Bank in Rome.

These accounts stemmed from contracts signed by Iraqi ministries with Italian companies before 2003 and had been subject to litigation since 1999. He added that the Fund, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant Italian authorities, initiated a series of legal and technical procedures that resulted in the recovery of more than nine million dollars, equivalent to 12,479,755,320 Iraqi dinars, and their return to government accounts. He confirmed that these funds were deposited into the accounts of the Iraqi embassies in Italy. The Vatican and the commercial attaché in Rome, then it was transferred to the embassy’s secure account at Intesa Sanpaolo bank, in preparation for sending it to a bank account inside Iraq in accordance with the approved legal frameworks.

He also pointed out that the completion of the recovery process involved diligent efforts by the Fund and the relevant Iraqi institutions, as these efforts culminated in lifting the seizure notice on those frozen balances, after continuous follow-up with the competent authorities in Italy. He noted that with regard to the balances belonging to Al-Rafidain and Al-Rasheed banks, the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Rome is waiting for the required powers of attorney to be sent from the general administration of the two banks, so that it can take the necessary action regarding the restricted amounts.

Burathanews.com

Trump: Mojtaba Khamenei is weak-willed and we will not accept him succeeding his father.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday evening that he would not accept Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, assuming leadership of Iran, deeming his nomination to succeed his father “unacceptable.”

Axios quoted Trump as saying that Mojtaba Khamenei is the most likely candidate to succeed the Supreme Leader, but that this outcome is “unacceptable to him,” stressing that the United States wants an Iranian leader who “brings peace and harmony to Iran.”

He added that Khamenei’s son is a “weak figure,” noting that if any new Iranian leadership continues to follow Khamenei’s policies, it will lead to a return to war within five years.

Trump also stressed his desire to be personally involved in the selection of Iran’s new leader, asserting that Washington would not accept a leader who continues the previous approach of the Iranian regime.

Shafaq.com