TEHRAN: Iran’s Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, according to reports carried by Iranian state media.
The announcement comes days after Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed on February 28 when Israeli warplanes allegedly bombed his residence in Tehran. The development has intensified tensions across the Middle East.
The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body responsible for appointing Iran’s Supreme Leader, said it had finalized the decision and called on the Iranian public to pledge loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei. The body also urged citizens to maintain unity during the current period of conflict.
Several members of the Assembly indicated that a strong majority had agreed on the choice, although some procedural matters had delayed the official announcement.
The decision comes amid escalating airstrikes on Iran by the US and Israel. Israeli officials have warned that any new Iranian Supreme Leader could be targeted. Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes in Tehran, Qom, and other locations linked to Iranian leadership.
At the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been involved in missile and drone operations across the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously indicated opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s Supreme Leader, suggesting that he would continue policies similar to those of his father.
The leadership transition has also highlighted tensions within Iran’s political establishment. Hard-line clerics appear to support Mojtaba Khamenei, while reformist figures, including former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, have called for broader political reforms and greater public participation in governance.
Meanwhile, reports also suggest that former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad narrowly survived an assassination attempt last week.
The selection of Mojtaba Khamenei would effectively continue the leadership within the same family for the first time since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
