“Marg bar Amrika,” the Columbia University Apartheid Divest [CUAD] group posted on X on Saturday — a rally cry made famous by founder Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini.
The US and Israel killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a targeted strike Saturday.Anadolu via Getty Images
The words are a transliteration of the Farsi phrase.
The post was removed by X, but the organization, which is not recognized by the Ivy League school, doubled down.
Columbia University Apartheid Divest organized the school’s on-campus encampment last year to protest the war in Gaza.James Keivom “X forced us to delete our “marg bar amrika” tweet in order to gain back access to our account but the sentiment still stands,”CUAD wrote.
As questions hang over who will ultimately succeed Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an interim leader has been appointed to fulfill his duties. Top Shia clericAlireza Arafihas been named to the interim Leadership Council after Supreme Leader Khamenei was confirmed killed in US-Israeli strikes, state media reported Sunday.
The ISNA news agency has described that Arafi, a member of the Guardian Council, is joining President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on the body tasked with carrying out the supreme leader’s responsibilities until the Assembly of Experts appoints a permanent successor. All of this happening as US-Israeli bombs continue to fall on Tehran and other sites for a second straight day, 'uninterrupted' - as President Trump pledged Saturday.
Born in 1959, 67-year-old Alireza Arafi ranks among the most powerful clerics in Iran. Before his emergency elevation, he held three key posts: director of the nationwide Islamic Seminary system, member of the Guardian Council, and member of the Assembly of Experts.
While rooted in Qom's clerical establishment, Arafi combines traditional religious authority with seeking to carefully modernize Iran; however his appointment of course signals continuity, and he'll be tasked with seeking to ensure regime survival - which is what this moment is all about for Tehran. Most importantly, Arafi is viewed by the IRGC and political leadership as a loyal insider who will preserve a retaliatory trajectory during wartime.
Heavy US and Israeli bombing has been observed Sunday on the Iranian capital, particularly on known government and military command centers, but that hasn't stopped large gatherings of mourners in other parts of the country.
While there's been evidence of local celebrations in some sectors among anti-government Iranians, Sunday footage on state TV and other international media shows loyalists in possibly the hundreds of thousands showing solidarity with the slain Ayatollah the Islamic Republic leadership.
President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as "a great crime" and has declared seven days of public holidays in addition to the 40-day mourning period. Outraged and saddened Iranians were seen pouring into the streets of the capital soon after state TV finally made the announcement confirming Khamenei's killing during the opening salvo of the US-Israeli attack. Iranian authorities have alleged major war crimes, including the deaths of over 85 young girls attending school when a bomb struck.
"There will be expected ceremonies," Pezeshkian said, while noting they will have to happen even while the bombardment continues across the country. He's also said his country views revenge as its "legitimate right and duty" after Khamenei had been murdered by the "most wicked villains in the world."
The president further claimed the act was a "declaration of open war on Muslims, especially Shiites, in all corners of the world." According to NBC:
The government in Iran is under attack like never before. Today tens of thousands of regime supporters packed into Tehran’s Revolution Square to mourn the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S. and Israel military operation.
They chanted "God is great!" while officials promised revenge. One said Iran would deliver “terrifying blows” to make the U.S. and Israel beg for mercy.
Iran's interim leadership council: President Masoud Pezeshkian, member of the Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Ali Arafi, Head of Judiciary Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei
As for the day to day running of the country and immediately overseeing the military response, Ali Larijani is believed to be in the driver's seat. Khamenei had reportedly personally tapped Larijani - a former Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander and political heavyweight - to take charge in the event of the Supreme Leader's death.
Israel has confirmed it has conducted new strikes "in the heart of Tehran" and that the "majority" or Iran’s senior military leaders - some 40 of them - were killed in the opening wave. "The Israeli Air Force continues to operate extensively in both defense and offense, with the goal of removing threats posed to the State of Israel," the IDF said - alongside the US boasting that they have established air superiority with much of Iran's radars and air defenses having been taken out already.
Iran has said that at least 200 of its people have been killed, but the actual figure could be much higher, and is expected to be in the coming days. The external attack could go on for weeks, given especially President Trump is now calling for full regime change, which would mean defeating and dismantling the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The problem with this is that most analyst agree it would require boots on the ground. Trump says he wants to see full "freedom" in Iran as the goal of the military operation.
Trump's 'shock & awe': Tehran is a densely packed modern cosmopolitan city of almost 10 million people. The wider metropolitan area has over 16 million.
Massive airstrikes on Tehran:
So far, it's been limited to an air war, and with naval assets also firing, and no casualties on the US or Israeli sides have yet to be reported. It's mainly America's Gulf allies which have suffered, with Iranian ballistic missiles coming down on US bases in the region - but also strikes which have landed on hotels, buildings, and even major airports around the Gulf.
By all accounts Israel has been getting hit hard - though many analysts say Israel's military censor is working in overdrive, preventing an avalanche of information from getting out. However, there's still plenty of confirmation of some Iranian ballistic missile impacts:
Air alert sirens continue sounding especially across central Israel. Tel Aviv was struck overnight. Iranian state media meanwhile confirms:
IRAN FIRED FATTAH-2 HYPERSONIC MISSILES FOR FIRST TIME: FARS
This war looks to go on, even if there's desire in the White House for it to be 'one and done' - as increasingly the Iranians have nothing to lose. One likely result of the unprovoked US-Israeli attack is that leadership in Tehran will only become more hardline. We detailed some of the initial Saturday blowback on the Gulf allies - but Sunday has witnessed some direct repercussions on US embassies and diplomatic compounds in the region.
The US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore has come under attack by large angry mobs, within hours after Khamenei's death was announced. "Violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the Pakistani port city of Karachi left at least nine people killed and more than 50 others wounded on Sunday, after hundreds of demonstrators attempted to storm the U.S. Consulate, authorities said," according to AP.
Things are also popping off outside high-secured Baghdad's Green Zone, where Iraqis are trying to breach the US embassy, with hundreds seen rioting and even bringing bulldozing equipment to the site. The mob threw stones and clashed with Iraqi security forces, which responded with tear gas. "Their attempts had been thwarted so far, but they keep trying," an official told AFP. Iraq is a Shia majority country with heavy loyalty to the Shia religious establishment in Iran. Baghdad's general pro-Iran stance and influence is a legacy of the Bush Neocons, who overthrow Sunni secular Baath dictator Saddam Hussein and elevated the Shia Mullahs.
Tensions in international trade policy are escalating on multiple fronts. After the U.S. Supreme Court initially declared the tariff regime implemented by President Donald Trump since April of last year unlawful, it appears the administration has explored new ways to stabilize its tariff policy going forward.
The signs on the international trade front continue to point toward turmoil. Not least, it is the ramped-up Chinese export machine that is increasingly in the crosshairs of U.S. protectionism and European defensive measures.
Beijing is using its massive export engine to offset deflationary pressures in its domestic economy—a result of state-induced capital misallocation and a shrinking population. Through export subsidies and other support measures, the government seeks to stabilize employment while boosting industrial production.
However, this comes at the expense of trade margins and production capacities in other countries, which increasingly fall behind in competition with China.
It was predictable that the still high-purchasing-power internal market of the European Union would attract attention, given the U.S.'s hardline approach. Europe risks becoming a de facto unloading hub for Chinese goods. The consequences are evident in the trade balance, which recorded a deficit of €305 billion for the EU economy last year.
Weakened by its own energy policy and the regulatory framework of the green transition, European manufacturers in nearly all industrial and consumer sectors face the global competitive arena with their backs to the wall. The ongoing deindustrialization has significantly contributed to many European business models losing ground in international competition.
Germany, in particular, appears as a sort of laboratory experiment: in trade with China, the country has now become a net importer of capital. The former know-how advantage of German engineering is no longer unassailable—it seems to be history.
European policymakers now appear determined to pursue a path of protectionism themselves.
On February 7, 2026, the European Commission adopted Regulation 2026/274, responding to the Chinese export surge with anti-dumping tariffs. The first targeted product group: ceramic and porcelain imports. Around 60% of the assortments in European e-commerce and physical retail come from Chinese production. Tariffs within this group were raised from 18–36% to a consolidated 79%.
The affected products include, among others, tableware and kitchen items made of ceramic, porcelain, and stoneware originating from China. This also includes items such as spice grinders, coffee mills, and pizza stones. The new tariff regime is set to last initially for five years.
The Commission acted without involving national parliaments—mirroring the approach frequently criticized when applied to U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly in trade matters. In precisely those instances where Brussels regularly demands transparency, multilateralism, and rule-based procedures, it now itself takes unilateral executive action. Viewed in this light, criticism of Trump’s unilateralism appears profoundly hypocritical.
The Commission’s executive action reflects a rather elastic interpretation of its mandate. Should it identify dumping practices by trade partners—as in this case—it may impose corresponding tariffs. Neither the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, nor national governments are involved in this process—a clear indication of growing concentration of power in Brussels.
The consequences of this tariff move—which is likely to expand to additional product groups—impact not only Chinese exporters but also European traders. They report liquidity shortfalls, rising insolvency risks, and significant challenges in compensating pre-financed transactions. The interests of European consumers evidently play no role in Brussels’ decisions.
Should further categories such as e-bikes, auto parts, or tires be added, as is currently rumored, this could have tangible effects on consumer prices across the EU. Moreover, the tariffs apply retroactively to ongoing shipments, further exacerbating the financial strain on European traders.
Brussels’ drastic response indicates that parts of European industry are under severe pressure from Chinese imports—and that the escalation in trade policy has now reached a new level.
So far, the Chinese leadership has not reacted to Brussels’ tariff measures. Chancellor Friedrich Merz may place trade issues at the forefront during his visit to China from February 24–26, where he is also expected to meet President Xi Jinping.
Recall that last year the dispute over the strategically critical export of rare earths—dominated by China—nearly escalated twice. Beijing is not hesitant to wield its geostrategic leverage in trade policy and defend its interests with a firm hand.
Fundamentally, a recalibration has occurred. In its strategy toward China, the EU is first raising the tariff wall, ignoring potential countermeasures from Beijing. Starting July 1, 2026, e-commerce imports from third countries with a value under €150 will face a €3 flat-rate fee per package. This aims not only to complicate invoicing by Chinese companies via third countries but also to exert targeted pressure on trade channeled primarily through platforms like Temu and Shein.
According to the EU, these measures aim to curb unfair competition and stabilize the internal market. Of course, such claims must be taken cum grano salis. Europeans are, after all, the undisputed masters of hidden trade protectionism. Their regulatory catalogs—particularly in climate policy—contain numerous non-tariff measures with deep protective effects.
Global trade is increasingly moving within geopolitical spheres of influence. Europeans would be wise to align with U.S. rules and integrate into the Western hemisphere. Yet Brussels appears intent on simultaneously confronting both major trade blocs.
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About the author: Thomas Kolbe, a German graduate economist, has worked for over 25 years as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the country's next supreme leader, who would succeed late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may be elected "in a day or two."
Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Araghchi noted that the new transition council assumed the duties of Khamenei. "This group of three will act as in charge of the leadership before a new leader is elected. And then the process of election of the new leader by the Assembly of Experts, I assume that it takes a short period of time. Maybe in one or two days, they will elect a new leader for the country. So everything is in order, and everything is in line with our legal system and in line with the constitution," he explained.
Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout beginning at 2:00 am ET on Saturday, according to a Sunday update from internet monitoring firm NetBlocks.
According to the group, which detects government-imposed disruptions using network monitoring and web traffic analytics, nationwide connections dropped to barely 4% of normal levels.
NetBlocks said on X that the outage was similar to limitations put in place during the conflict with Israel last year and coincided with US and Israeli military operations in the country.
Amazon Web Services said on Sunday it is investigating increased error rates affecting multiple cloud services in its Middle East (UAE) region, known as me-central-1, according to an alert on the AWS Health Dashboard.
AWS listed AWS Glue, AWS Resource Groups, AWS Service Catalog, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, and Amazon Relational Database Service as impacted, while describing the incident as an operational issue involving multiple services in the UAE region.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+) are holding a meeting on Sunday, during which it is expected that the April crude production will be increased by 206,000 barrels per day (bpd), energy journalist Amena Bakr reported.
The meeting comes as chaos consumes the Middle East. Earlier, the United States and Israel conducted joint attacks against Iran, which led the latter to retaliate, targeting various countries in the region that host US military bases and other assets.
After the meeting, OPEC+ released an official statement, confirming the report and detailing that eight countries will be hiking their oil output in April, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman.
