The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of Iran is raising serious concerns among countries in the Persian Gulf.

For Gulf states, which have faced Iranian attacks since the beginning of the latest regional escalation, the decision is widely seen as a signal that the confrontation with Tehran may continue, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

Regional leaders fear that the leadership change could reinforce Iran’s current hardline policies and prolong tensions across the Middle East.

At the same time, observers note that Gulf countries' governments are closely watching Mojtaba Khamenei’s next moves. There remains uncertainty about whether the new leader will follow the same path as his predecessor or introduce unexpected changes in Iran’s regional strategy.

"At the same time, they’ll be watching: maybe he’ll come with something new, and maybe he’ll surprise them," the message says.