Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the reported death of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to reports carried by state media and cited by Al Jazeera.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for selecting Iran’s Supreme Leader. In a statement released through state media, the clerical council said Mojtaba was chosen after what it described as a decisive vote among its members.
The Assembly called on Iranians to rally behind the new leader and maintain national unity during the political transition. It specifically urged scholars, religious figures and academics from seminaries and universities to support the new leadership and pledge their loyalty.
The development follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989. Reports indicate that he was killed on February 28 during a joint military strike allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel targeting key leadership locations in Tehran amid rising tensions in the region.
His death triggered widespread speculation about who would succeed him, with Mojtaba Khamenei frequently mentioned as a potential candidate. Despite his relatively low public profile, he has long been considered an influential figure within Iran’s political establishment.
Mojtaba, a cleric, is believed to maintain close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has been viewed by some analysts as a key figure operating behind the scenes in Iran’s political structure.
However, the possibility of his succession had raised concerns among some observers within Iran’s political and religious circles who feared it could resemble a hereditary transfer of power.
Prior to the announcement, former U.S. president Donald Trump had publicly criticized the idea of Mojtaba assuming the country’s highest leadership position, reportedly dismissing him as unqualified to influence Iran’s political future.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts has the exclusive authority to appoint the Supreme Leader, who holds the highest political and religious office in the country and exercises broad authority over national policy, the armed forces and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment represents a major shift in Iran’s leadership and comes at a time when tensions across the Middle East remain high following the death of his father.
