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Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei

Iran’s Assembly of Experts appoints the son of the slain ayatollah as the country’s new Supreme Leader amid escalating confrontation with Israel and the United States

Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei following a vote by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the leader of the Islamic Republic. The decision was announced Sunday evening, March 8, after members of the assembly met earlier in the day to choose the successor.

The 56-year-old cleric is the second of six sons of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by the United States and Israel during the early phase of the war. According to the Tasnim news agency, the appointment was approved by an overwhelming majority of the 88-member council.

In a statement released after the vote, the Assembly of Experts confirmed that “Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been chosen as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The statement also said the decision was taken without hesitation despite what it described as “the brutal aggression of criminal America and the evil Zionist regime.”

The announcement that Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei extends the influence of the Khamenei family at the highest level of Iran’s political and religious system.

Influence without a formal role

Although Mojtaba Khamenei has never held a formal government office, he has long been considered an influential figure within the country’s power structure. Analysts have frequently pointed to his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known as the Pasdaran, a relationship widely seen as a key factor in his political weight.

Shortly before the official confirmation, Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, had hinted at the direction of the vote, saying that “the name of Khamenei will continue.”

After the announcement that Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards declared their loyalty to the new leader. In a statement, the force pledged “complete obedience” and reaffirmed its commitment to defend the principles of the Islamic Revolution and the legacy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

U.S. sanctions already imposed in 2019

Mojtaba Khamenei had already been targeted by U.S. sanctions during Donald Trump’s first administration. In 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department accused him of effectively representing the Supreme Leader despite not occupying an elected or official state position.

Washington argued that Ali Khamenei had delegated parts of his leadership responsibilities to his son, who allegedly worked closely with the Revolutionary Guards in advancing Iran’s regional influence and maintaining internal control.

Israeli warning after the appointment

Israel responded sharply to the leadership change. The Israel Defense Forces said they would pursue the successor to Ali Khamenei as well as anyone involved in the process that led to the appointment.

In a statement, the military said that after “the elimination of the tyrant Khamenei,” the Iranian regime was attempting to reorganize and select a new Supreme Leader.

“We want to make it clear that the long arm of the State of Israel will continue to pursue the successor and anyone who attempts to appoint him,” the statement said.

The Israeli military also issued a warning to participants in the assembly meeting that selected the new leader, saying they too could become targets.

Trump comments, Tehran rejects interference

U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the appointment in comments to ABC News. He said the new leader would not remain in power for long without Washington’s approval.

“He will have to get our approval. If he doesn’t get it, he won’t last long,” Trump said, adding that there were other figures within Iran’s ruling elite who might be considered acceptable by the United States.

Iran quickly rejected the remarks. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the selection of the country’s leader is an internal matter handled by Iranian institutions.

“It is up to the Iranian people to choose their leader. They have elected the Assembly of Experts, and the Assembly of Experts will do its job,” he said.

Araghchi added that Tehran would not allow outside powers to interfere in the decision.

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