标签： Asia

TEHRAN – In a landmark decision that will shape Iran’s political future, the country’s Assembly of Experts formally announced the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s third Supreme Leader on Sunday. The announcement concludes a critical succession process triggered by the death of former leader Ali Khamenei.

The clerical body confirmed the appointment through an official statement, highlighting the “decisive vote of the respected representatives” that resulted in Mojtaba Khamenei’s ascension to Iran’s highest authority position. The 57-year-old assumes leadership during a period of significant regional tension and domestic challenges.

The transition follows the death of the previous Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed during joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes across Iran on February 28. The unprecedented attack created a power vacuum that required immediate resolution according to Iran’s constitutional procedures.

Mojtaba Khamenei, born in 1969, has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to other political figures but has been widely regarded as a influential behind-the-scenes operator within Iran’s power structure. His selection represents continuity in the Islamic Republic’s leadership while positioning a new generation to guide the nation’s religious and political direction.

The Supreme Leader wields ultimate authority over Iran’s foreign policy, military operations, and religious matters, making this transition particularly significant for regional stability and international relations. The Assembly of Experts, composed of 88 Islamic scholars, conducted the selection process in accordance with Iran’s constitutional framework governing leadership succession.

Japan has initiated the deployment of its first domestically developed long-range missiles, marking a significant escalation in the nation’s offensive military capabilities. The advanced Type-12 land-to-ship missiles, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, began arriving at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture during a covert midnight operation that drew immediate local protests.

The deployment, confirmed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, will be completed by March’s end. The move comes as Japan accelerates its military modernization timeline by one year in response to growing regional security concerns, particularly regarding China’s activities around Taiwan.

The newly upgraded missiles represent a substantial capability enhancement, with an operational range extending to approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles)—a fivefold increase over the original 200-kilometer version. This extended range places mainland China within striking distance, fundamentally altering Japan’s defensive posture.

Local opposition has been vocal, with dozens of protesters gathering outside the military camp holding banners that read ‘Stop long-range missile deployment.’ Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting his administration learned of the deployment through media reports rather than official channels.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has outlined additional deployment plans, with Camp Fuji in Shizuoka scheduled to receive the missiles later this year. Further military enhancements include deploying midrange surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, located just east of Taiwan, by March 2031.

The military expansion aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s stated policy that Chinese military action against Taiwan could warrant Japanese response. Her administration is pursuing comprehensive defense reforms, including developing unmanned combat systems and potentially lifting restrictions on lethal arms exports to strengthen international defense cooperation.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued a stark warning on Sunday, threatening retaliatory measures across the region if attacks on its fuel and energy facilities persist. The declaration came in response to coordinated US-Israeli strikes that targeted multiple fuel storage sites in Tehran and Alborz province on Saturday night, causing temporary disruptions to fuel supplies and raising significant environmental health concerns.

Spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari, addressing reporters through the Iranian Students’ News Agency, accused the United States and Israel of conducting ‘brutal assaults’ against Iran’s critical energy infrastructure and civilian service centers. He emphasized that these actions represented unacceptable aggression against both national assets and civilian populations.

Zolfaghari called upon Muslim nations throughout the region to intervene and pressure Washington and Jerusalem to cease their ‘cowardly and inhumane operations.’ He delivered an unequivocal ultimatum: ‘Should these attacks continue, parallel retaliatory actions will be implemented across the region. If Western powers believe they can withstand oil prices exceeding $200 per barrel, they may proceed with this dangerous game.’

This escalation follows the devastating February 28 joint operations by Israeli and American forces that struck multiple Iranian cities, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several family members, senior military officials, and numerous civilians. Iran subsequently launched extensive missile and drone counterstrikes targeting Israeli territory and US military installations throughout the Middle East, significantly heightening regional tensions and threatening broader conflict escalation.

Amidst global economic complexities and a significant surge in international litigation, China’s judicial system is positioning itself as a pivotal force in shaping the nation’s high-level opening-up strategy. Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun revealed that Chinese courts have demonstrated remarkable capacity in handling cross-border disputes, concluding 128,000 first-instance foreign-related civil and commercial cases during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025)—representing a 65% increase from the previous five years.

The judicial expansion reflects China’s deepening integration into global markets, with cases spanning more than 100 countries and regions. In 2025 alone, courts nationwide handled over 67,000 foreign-related commercial and maritime cases, marking a 44% year-on-year increase. This growth parallels global supply chain restructuring and the rise of digital trade, bringing complex disputes involving international goods contracts, service trade, cross-border payments, transportation, and insurance.

China has established specialized institutions to address this growing demand, including the pioneering International Commercial Courts in Shenzhen and Xi’an (established 2018), which have resolved 37 cases involving parties from 21 jurisdictions. Additionally, international commercial tribunals across 18 cities—including Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou—concluded over 1,700 foreign-related commercial and arbitration review cases in 2025, representing a 24% annual increase.

The system’s efficiency was demonstrated in a notable case where a foreign oil tanker dispute at Qingdao port was resolved within 24 hours through coordinated efforts between maritime courts using both online and offline mediation techniques.

Significantly, China’s judicial influence is gaining international recognition. In a landmark 2022 incident involving a collision between Liberian and Panamanian vessels in the Strait of Malacca, parties proactively selected China’s Ningbo Maritime Court despite jurisdiction options across five nations. This voluntary selection by international entities, even those without substantial connections to China, signals growing confidence in China’s judicial system.

Reciprocity breakthroughs have further enhanced China’s legal standing. In March 2022, the Shanghai Maritime Court recognized a UK court judgment based on reciprocal principles—despite the absence of a formal judicial assistance treaty—prompting British courts to subsequently recognize two Chinese judgments and breaking the ‘zero record’ of mutual recognition between the nations.

From 2024-2025, Chinese courts received 1,620 applications for recognizing and enforcing foreign judgments, concluding 1,510 cases, demonstrating commitment to protecting rights of all parties through fair and inclusive judicial practices.

President Zhang emphasized that ‘openness is a key feature of Chinese modernization, and the rule of law is the foundation for achieving high-level global engagement.’ Chinese courts have actively contributed to legislative developments including the Foreign Investment Law and Law on Foreign Relations, while also playing a crucial role in international rule-making, notably through China’s full participation in developing the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents—the first transportation sector treaty originating from Chinese judicial practice.

As global uncertainties persist, China’s judiciary positions itself as both a ‘navigator’ for opening-up and an ‘anchor of stability’ for global trade, using legal certainty to address external volatilities while providing judicial solutions that support both China’s economic stability and global economic development.