Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports cited by Al Jazeera.
The decision was announced on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for selecting the country’s Supreme Leader. In a statement circulated by state media, the assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen after what it described as a “decisive vote.”
The body called on citizens to remain united and support the new leader, urging Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and help preserve national unity.
The appointment comes days after the death of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989. He was reportedly killed on February 28 during a joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.
His death triggered widespread speculation over succession, with Mojtaba Khamenei widely viewed as one of the leading contenders despite concerns among some political and religious figures in Iran about the possibility of hereditary leadership in the Islamic Republic.
A mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to maintain strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long been considered an influential figure operating behind the scenes in the country’s political system.
Before the announcement, Donald Trump publicly opposed the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s leader, reportedly describing him as a “lightweight” and suggesting he should not play a role in determining the country’s leadership.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts holds the authority to appoint the Supreme Leader, the country’s highest political and religious authority with ultimate control over state policy, the military and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment marks one of the most significant political transitions in Iran in decades and comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East following the killing of his father.
