Tensions in the Middle East escalate as the U.S. and Israel continue striking Iran, prompting a mass exodus of traumatized civilians. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports from the Turkish border on the dire conditions faced by fleeing Iranians, including heavy bombardment and civilian casualties, while others return to seek family. Amidst the conflict, a panel of clerics in Iran convenes to select a new Supreme Leader following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, with Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late leader, emerging as a leading contender. Simultaneously, China dispatches a special envoy to the Middle East, signaling its intent to mediate and protect its economic interests, particularly oil supplies, as the conflict threatens regional stability and its own economic growth.
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