March 9, Monday, 2026

  1. Iran’s clerical leadership has chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the former supreme leader, as the country’s new top leader. The Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei for the post on Sunday after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli military attacks.
  2. The Financial Times has reported that G7 nations will hold an emergency meeting to discuss a possible joint release of petroleum reserves in response to the surge in oil prices due to the situation in Iran. 
  3. Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu says the government will help all Japanese nationals in the Middle East who want to return to Japan. Motegi said the government has been doing its utmost to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens in the Middle East since the start of the conflict.  He said arrangements are being made to help those who wish to evacuate.