Mojtaba Khamenei had long been considered a possible successor to his father, despite never holding an elected or formal government position.
His appointment came after signs of internal disagreement among Iranian officials while the country awaited a decision from the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for choosing the supreme leader, as per news agency The Associated Press (AP).His role now places him at the centre of Iran’s wartime strategy, with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reporting directly to him. He is said to have close relations with the IRGC.
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The prospect of Mojtaba succeeding his father had previously drawn criticism from some observers who argued it could resemble a hereditary succession in Iran’s theocratic system.
However, support among hardliners increased after both his father and wife were killed in the Israeli strike, with supporters portraying them as martyrs in the conflict, as per AP.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Born in Mashhad in 1969, Mojtaba Khamenei grew up during the years leading up to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. He later fought in the Iran-Iraq war and gradually built influence within the political and security establishment after his father became supreme leader in 1989.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s described him as “the power behind the robes”, alleging he acted as a key gatekeeper within his father’s inner circle, as per AP.
According to the US Treasury, Mojtaba worked closely with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and was sanctioned by Washington in 2019 for helping advance his father’s regional policies.
Trump slams Mojtaba’s appointment as Iran’s Supreme Leader
US President Donald Trump had earlier criticised the possibility of Mojtaba assuming leadership.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, he said, as per Axios.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi congratulated Mojtaba on becoming the new Supreme Leader.
“Congratulations on the worthy selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, coinciding with the first blessed night of Qadr…” he wrote in a statement on X.
“We pledge that, in defense of the rights of the great Iranian nation, the advancement of national interests and security, and the realisation of the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution, we shall not falter for a moment,” he added.
