Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the country’s Assembly of Experts, according to a recent media report.
“The Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader,” Iran International reported, citing informed sources.
The outlet stated that Mojtaba, 56, has been chosen to assume the country’s top leadership position. He is the second-eldest son of Ali Khamenei and has long been regarded by observers and analysts as a potential successor within Iran’s clerical establishment.
His reported appointment comes only days after his father was killed in a series of joint US-Israeli strikes. The attacks have since escalated into a broader armed confrontation across the Middle East.
The development is expected to carry significant political sensitivity given the volatile regional climate.
Questions Over Dynastic Transfer of Power
The Islamic Republic has historically presented itself as an ideological alternative to hereditary monarchy and has consistently criticised dynastic rule.
A transfer of authority from father to son could therefore prompt scrutiny and raise questions about the system’s adherence to its declared principles.
Iran International further alleged that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps exerted substantial pressure on the clerical body to support Mojtaba’s selection.
“The IRGC heavily pressured the assembled group of clerics to select Mojtaba as the regime’s new leader,” the outlet reported.
The Supreme Leader stands at the apex of Iran’s complex power structure and wields ultimate authority over state affairs.
The role includes serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and overseeing the Revolutionary Guard. The force was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019.
During Ali Khamenei’s tenure, the Guard significantly expanded its influence across Iran’s political, military, and economic spheres.
The report added that Mojtaba maintains close ties with the force. He is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He is also said to effectively manage the Office of the Supreme Leader and operate as a key power broker within Iran’s governing framework.
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