Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the US-Israeli strike on Tehran. State media reported a decisive vote by the 88-member clerical body.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, lost his mother, wife, and one sister in the same attack on his father’s compound. Reports state he survived because he was not present during the strike. The Assembly of Experts called on citizens to show unity and pledge allegiance to the new leadership. The statement urged scholars, seminary leaders, and university intellectuals to support national unity during war conditions.
The new leader held strong influence inside Iran’s political and security establishment for decades. He maintained close links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and remained part of his father’s inner circle. Public appearances remained rare. Many Iranians knew his role within leadership circles yet few heard his voice in public speeches. He never ran for public office and never faced a national vote. Analysts expect leadership continuity during the ongoing conflict.
Khamenei also served with the Habib Battalion of the Revolutionary Guard during the Iran-Iraq War. His clerical rank stands at hojatoleslam, a mid-level position. Iranian law changed once before during leadership transition in 1989 and similar steps remain possible again.
Iran continues nationwide internet restrictions.