The son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly been elected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran by the Assembly of Experts.
This development comes amid the ongoing conflict involving US and Israeli military actions against Iran, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes over the weekend.According to reports from Iranian opposition outlet Iran International, citing informed sources, the 56-year-old Mojtaba was selected under significant pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The decision has sparked controversy, as it introduces a hereditary element to the leadership—something the Islamic Republic has historically positioned itself against, favoring a system based on clerical merit rather than family lineage.Mojtaba Khamenei, born in 1969, is not a high-ranking cleric (often referred to as Hojjat ol-Islam rather than Ayatollah) and has never held formal public office.
However, he is widely believed to wield substantial behind-the-scenes influence, with close ties to the IRGC and its Basij paramilitary force. He fought in the Iran-Iraq War and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019 for acting on behalf of his father despite lacking an official role.
The Assembly of Experts, a body of senior clerics responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader, reportedly made the choice on Tuesday, with some speculation that an official announcement could follow soon. Various international outlets, including The New York Times, have noted Mojtaba emerging as a front-runner in deliberations, though concerns exist about potential risks from ongoing US and Israeli targeting.
This succession breaks from precedent and could face internal resistance within Iran’s clerical establishment, where father-to-son transitions are viewed critically. Some reports indicate public discontent, including chants against Mojtaba in Tehran.
Note: This information is based on emerging reports from sources like Iran International and has not been independently confirmed by official Iranian state media as of the latest updates. The situation remains fluid amid the broader regional war.
