Iran Names Khamenei's Son Mojtaba as the New Supreme Leader

  • Publish date: since 13 hour Reading time: two min read

Iran’s Assembly of Experts appoints Mojtaba Khamenei following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after US-Israeli strikes.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, replacing his father Ali Khamenei, according to reports carried by Iranian state media on Sunday, March 8.

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The appointment comes after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed following military strikes on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric, has long been considered a potential successor within elements of Iran’s ruling establishment. He is known for his close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and influence within his father’s political network.

While the ideology of the Islamic Republic traditionally discourages hereditary succession, the younger Khamenei has reportedly enjoyed strong backing from influential figures within the IRGC as well as from key officials in the office of the late supreme leader.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed the Assembly’s decision, describing the appointment as the beginning of a “new era of dignity and strength” for the country.

“This valuable choice is a manifestation of the will of the Islamic nation to consolidate national unity; a unity that, like a solid barrier, has made the Iranian nation resistant to the conspiracies of the enemies,” Pezeshkian said in a statement reported by the Fars News Agency.

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Senior officials have also moved quickly to pledge their loyalty to the new leader. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and top security official Ali Larijani were among those who publicly affirmed their allegiance.

The Supreme Leader holds the highest authority in Iran’s political and religious system, overseeing key state institutions, the armed forces, and major policy decisions. Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment signals a pivotal moment for the Islamic Republic as it enters a new chapter following decades of leadership under his father.

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