Mojtaba Khamenei Named Iran’s New Supreme Leader After Father’s Death
Assembly of Experts selects Ali Khamenei’s son as the Islamic Republic’s third supreme leader as tensions escalate with the US and Israel
Dubai/Jerusalem, Mar 9: Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, replacing his father Ali Khamenei, in a move that reinforces the dominance of hardliners during Tehran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.
The decision was announced shortly after midnight in Tehran following a vote by the 88-member clerical body responsible for selecting the leader of the Islamic Republic.
“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the body said in an official statement.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric who has long wielded influence within Iran’s security establishment and extensive economic networks linked to his father, had been widely viewed as the leading contender ahead of the vote.
The post of Supreme Leader carries sweeping authority, giving him ultimate control over the armed forces, judiciary and key state policies.
His elevation could further strain relations with Washington and Israel. US President Donald Trump said earlier that Washington should have a say in the leadership transition, warning in remarks to ABC News that the new leader “won’t last long” without American approval. Israeli officials had also indicated that any successor could be considered a potential target amid the conflict.
Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for decades, was killed in one of the early strikes carried out against the country more than a week ago, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the US military confirmed that another American service member has died from injuries sustained during Iran’s initial retaliation, bringing the total number of US fatalities to seven. The remains of six others were returned to the United States on Saturday.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said the joint US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 civilians and left thousands injured.
Despite calls for de-escalation, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire and vowed retaliation against those responsible.
Israel has continued to strike high ranking Iranian figures. The Israeli military said Abolqasem Babaian, recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, was killed in a strike on Saturday.
