Tehran, Mar 4: Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, has reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader, according to multiple international outlets.
The decision follows the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during recent U.S.–Israeli military strikes, which plunged Iran into an unprecedented leadership crisis. Reports indicate that the vote to elevate Mojtaba, 56, was held under significant pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reflecting his long-standing influence behind the scenes despite holding no formal government post.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise is controversial, as the Islamic Republic has historically rejected hereditary rule — positioning itself as a theocratic republic rather than a dynasty.