Tehran [Iran], March 9 (ANI): Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran following a decision by the country’s Assembly of Experts, Iranian state media reported.
In a post on X, Press TV stated that Iran’s Assembly of Experts had appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Leader of the Islamic Republic. The clerical body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader confirmed the decision in a formal statement, declaring that by a decisive vote the Assembly had elected Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
The appointment comes after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US–Israel joint military strike last week, which triggered a leadership transition in the country.
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei. He spent his early years in Tehran, where he completed secondary education at the Alavi School. During the Iran–Iraq War, at the age of seventeen, he volunteered to serve on the front lines as a member of the Habib ibn Mazaher Battalion of the 27th Mohammad Rasulollah Division.
Following the war, he pursued religious studies and moved to Qom in 1989 to begin advanced seminary education. He later continued his higher religious training there, studying jurisprudence and principles of Islamic law under prominent scholars. Religious authorities in Qom have often described him as a meticulous scholar with a strong analytical approach to Islamic sciences.
In 1997, Mojtaba Khamenei married Zahra Haddad Adel, and the couple had three children—two sons and a daughter. His wife was reportedly killed in the February 28 attack that also resulted in the death of his father.
Throughout his father’s nearly four decades in power, Mojtaba Khamenei was believed to play an influential role behind the scenes in Iranian politics. He reportedly participated in consultations with senior officials and contributed to discussions on issues ranging from economic stability and technological development to agricultural modernisation and housing policy, while largely maintaining a low public profile.
However, Israeli media and Western analysts have described Mojtaba Khamenei as holding a more hardline position than his father. According to reports, he has long opposed reformist groups advocating engagement with the West.
In November 2019, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, designating him for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or formally appointed to a government position. The Treasury alleged that he worked closely with commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and the Basij Resistance Force to advance Iran’s regional ambitions and domestic political objectives.
Reports have also suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei has access to luxury properties in London and financial accounts in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
His appointment has drawn criticism from the United States. US President Donald Trump previously stated that Mojtaba Khamenei would be “unacceptable” as Iran’s next leader and said he preferred a leader who could bring “harmony and peace” to the country.
Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump said he wanted a role in discussions about Iran’s leadership following the death of Ali Khamenei and warned that continuing his father’s policies could lead to renewed tensions with the United States.
Analysts quoted by the Times of Israel said the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei, widely regarded as a deeply hardline cleric, signals that Iran’s leadership is unlikely to pursue compromise with the West and may instead prepare for confrontation and endurance in the face of international pressure.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal declaration of allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei following his appointment. In a statement shared on X by the Iranian Embassy in India, the ministry congratulated him on his selection as the third Leader of the Islamic Revolution and pledged full support from Iranian diplomats both at home and abroad.
The ministry said the country was at a “critical juncture” following what it described as continued military aggression by the United States and Israel. It expressed confidence that the new leader’s appointment would ensure unity, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The statement concluded with a pledge by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iran’s diplomatic corps to remain committed to advancing the national interests of the Islamic Republic and supporting the leadership of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
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