, March 9 -- Iranian state television early Monday announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the country's late supreme leader, has been appointed as his successor.

Mojtaba had long been viewed as a potential candidate for the position, even before his father was killed in an Israeli strike at the outset of the ongoing war. Despite his influence, he has never held an elected office or been formally appointed to a government post.

As supreme leader, he will oversee key national decisions, including military strategy, with Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard directly answering to him.

Trump threatens 'very hard' strikes; Iran rejects surrender demand

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told ABC News on Sunday that he w...