Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has appointed Ahmad Vahidi as its new commander-in-chief following the death of Gen Mohammad Pakpour in joint Israeli and US strikes on Iran over the weekend. The IRGC, a powerful military, political and economic institution, operates separately from Iran’s regular army and plays a central role in the country’s regional influence.
The leadership change comes amid escalating unrest and violence linked to the ongoing conflict. In Pakistan, at least nine people were killed and more than 30 injured during pro-Iran protests near the United States Consulate General in Karachi, according to hospital officials and rescue workers. Clashes broke out when police attempted to stop demonstrators from entering the consulate complex. Protests also spread to Lahore and Islamabad following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
A United Nations office was reportedly set on fire in Gilgit, in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, prompting authorities to impose a curfew as crowds gathered in the area. Shia organisations had earlier announced nationwide rallies in several cities to protest the attacks on Iran.
Meanwhile, fresh explosions were reported in Iran’s capital Tehran, with eyewitnesses describing blasts stronger than those heard the previous day. Iranian media confirmed explosions in multiple parts of the city, raising fears of further escalation.
In the United Kingdom, Defence Secretary John Healey warned that British bases and personnel were at risk from what he described as “increasingly indiscriminate attacks from Iran.” He revealed that hundreds of British personnel were stationed close to a recent strike on a military base in Bahrain. Healey also accused the Iranian leadership of exporting terror and destabilising the region, saying the current crisis posed serious risks to international security.
The developments highlight the widening impact of the conflict, with leadership changes in Tehran, civilian casualties in Pakistan, and renewed explosions in Iran underscoring fears that tensions could spiral further across the Middle East and beyond.
