Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new supreme leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ali Khamenei, has been appointed as Iran’s new supreme leader, according to reports by state media.
The 56 year old cleric was confirmed as his father’s successor on Sunday following a vote by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s highest authority.
Ali Khamenei died last Saturday after strikes carried out by the United States and Israel targeted Iran.
In recent years, Mojtaba Khamenei, who maintained a close relationship with his father, had frequently been mentioned as a possible successor, although he had never publicly addressed the speculation.
Before the official announcement, Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, indicated that the body had already completed its vote and selected a candidate.
“The name of Khamenei will continue,” Eshkevari said in a video circulated by Iranian media, adding that the decision would soon be made public.
In Iran’s political system, the supreme leader holds ultimate authority over all state matters, ranking above the president.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment has raised concerns among some observers who believe it could signal the emergence of a leadership dynasty similar to the Pahlavi dynasty that ruled the country prior to the Iranian Revolution.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince and eldest son of the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, recently said he had accepted calls to lead the country.
The White House has yet to issue an official response to the appointment.
Earlier, Donald Trump warned that the next Iranian supreme leader “would not last long” without approval from the United States. Trump has repeatedly insisted that Washington should be consulted in the selection process, a proposal Iran has rejected.
In a statement announcing the decision, the Assembly of Experts said Mojtaba Khamenei was selected through a “decisive vote”.
The clerical body also urged Iranians, particularly scholars and intellectuals in seminaries and universities, to remain united and support the new leader.
