Iran Shock: Mojtaba Khamenei Rises as Supreme Leader
Iran leadership succession begins as Mojtaba Khamenei replaces his father amid US-Israel war tensions, raising fears of continued hardline rule in Tehran.
Mojtaba Khamenei will replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran's new Supreme Leader.
A statement from the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member religious body formed to select the Supreme Leader, was read aloud by a presenter on state TV.
Mojtaba Khamenei will replace his father – who was killed in the first wave of US and Israeli attacks last week – as the country's spiritual leader and highest-ranking official.
Many expect Mojtaba Khamenei to continue his father's hardline policies.
Announcing the decision on state TV, the presenter said it came "despite the grave war situation and direct threats from enemies against this popular institution."
He further stated that the Assembly of Experts "did not pause for a moment in the process of selecting and presenting the leadership of the Islamic system."
The presenter then shouted, "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Khamenei is the leader."
The US and Israel have not yet commented on the decision, but both governments may object to the appointment.
US President Donald Trump has said he wants to play a role in the selection of Iran's new leader.
While he hinted that he is open to someone associated with the old leadership taking power, he has made clear his opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei.
Earlier this week, Trump said, "I do not approve of Khamenei's son."
Hours before the appointment, Trump said that anyone who takes power without his approval "will not last long."
Before Khamenei's second son was confirmed as the new Supreme Leader, Israel issued a warning, saying it would "continue to promote any successor" to the late Ayatollah.
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Unlike his father, Trump, 56, has largely kept a low profile. He has never held government office, nor has he given any public speeches or interviews, and very few photos or videos of him have been published. Born on September 8, 1969, in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Mojtaba is the second of Ali Khamenei's six children.
He completed his secondary education at a religious Alawite school in Tehran.
According to Iranian media, at the age of 17, Mojtaba Khamenei served in the army for several short periods during the Iran-Iraq War. The bloody eight-year conflict made the government even more suspicious of the US and Western countries supporting Iraq.
In 1999, Mojtaba Khamenei went to Qom, a holy city considered a key center of Shia Islam, to continue his religious studies. It's worth noting that he hadn't worn clerical robes until this point.
Despite his low profile, rumors have long swirled about his influence as his father's gatekeeper.
According to the Associated Press, WikiLeaks published US diplomatic cables from the late 2000s, describing him as a "behind-the-scenes force" and a "capable and powerful leader" in that government.
He has been accused of interfering in presidential elections, commanding the Basij militia, and having close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In 2019, Mojtaba Khamenei was banned by the US as part of a group of individuals his father "appointed, worked for, or acted on his behalf."
The US-Israeli strikes on Iran are now in their second week. Iran has responded with attacks on US allies and assets throughout the region.
Trump has justified attacking Iran by stating that its government poses a significant threat to the United States, citing Iran's nuclear program. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful. According to Iran's UN ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands injured in US-Israeli attacks.
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