Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports cited by Al Jazeera.
The decision was announced on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body tasked with selecting the Islamic Republic’s highest authority.
In a statement carried by state media, the Assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen after what it described as a “decisive vote.” The body called on Iranians to remain united and support the new leader.
It urged citizens, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and help safeguard national unity.
The appointment comes days after the death of Ali Khamenei, who served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for more than three decades after assuming the role in 1989.
Reports indicated that the 85-year-old cleric was killed on February 28 during a joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel, which targeted leadership sites in Tehran amid escalating tensions in the region.
His death triggered widespread speculation over who would succeed him, with Mojtaba Khamenei long considered a leading contender despite concerns among some political and religious figures about the prospect of hereditary succession in the Islamic Republic.
A mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba Khamenei is widely believed to maintain close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has for years been regarded as an influential figure behind the scenes in Iran’s political structure.
Before the official announcement, former U.S. president Donald Trump publicly opposed the possibility of Mojtaba becoming Iran’s Supreme Leader, reportedly describing him as a “lightweight” and suggesting he should not play a role in shaping the country’s leadership.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts has the authority to appoint the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate power over the country’s political system, including control of the military, judiciary and key state policies.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment marks one of the most significant political transitions in Iran in decades, coming at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East following the death of his father.
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