Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been selected as the country’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts following days of speculation over succession.
According to reports by Iran International, the 56-year-old cleric was chosen by the powerful clerical body after the death of his father during recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member council responsible for appointing and supervising the Supreme Leader, is constitutionally tasked with selecting the country’s top authority.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after the joint US-Israel military operation targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure.
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Reports also suggested that Mojtaba’s appointment may have been backed by influential elements within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the powerful military force that plays a central role in Iran’s political and security establishment.
Questions over hereditary succession
Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation could prove controversial within Iran’s political and clerical circles. The Islamic Republic has long rejected hereditary rule and positioned itself as an alternative to monarchy.
Religious scholars within Iran’s Shia clerical establishment have traditionally viewed a father-to-son succession unfavourably, making the reported appointment notable.
According to The New York Times, which cited Iranian officials familiar with internal discussions, Mojtaba had already emerged as a leading contender for the role before the reported decision. Some clerics were said to have raised concerns that quickly naming a successor could make him a target during ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Mojtaba Khamenei was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad, a major religious centre in northeastern Iran. His early life coincided with the years when his father was actively involved in opposition to the Shah before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Despite his influence in political circles, Mojtaba has never held an elected office or formal government position. He is also not considered a senior cleric within Iran’s religious hierarchy.
Nevertheless, he is widely believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes, particularly through his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Mojtaba served with Iranian forces. In later years, he reportedly became involved in managing aspects of his father’s office and maintaining links between the clerical leadership and security institutions.
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In 2019, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, alleging that he acted on behalf of the Supreme Leader "in an official capacity" despite holding no formal government role.
A pivotal moment for Iran’s leadership
If confirmed, Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection would mark only the second time in the Islamic Republic’s history that a new Supreme Leader has been appointed.
Analysts say his rise could signal the growing influence of hardline factions within Iran’s leadership, particularly those aligned with the Revolutionary Guard. At the same time, supporters may see his leadership as a continuation of the political line established by his father during a period of heightened regional conflict.
