Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, according to state media reports. This position represents the highest political and religious authority in the country.
Details regarding the appointment process and the subsequent actions of the Iranian leadership have yet to be disclosed. The Supreme Leader wields significant influence over Iran’s political system, overseeing key state institutions, including the armed forces and the main directions of foreign policy.
On March 8, leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran conducted a vote to determine the successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An Iranian official confirmed that the new leader would be announced shortly thereafter. Ayatollah Alam al-Hoda, a senior member of the Assembly of Experts, stated, “The leadership elections have taken place, and a leader has been appointed,” as reported by the semi-official news agency Mehr.
Ali Khamenei, who served as the Supreme Leader for nearly four decades, passed away on February 28 at the age of 86 due to strikes by the United States and Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire to be involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader. He acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei is likely to succeed his father but indicated that he finds this outcome unacceptable, emphasizing that he does not wish to see a leader who would continue Ali Khamenei’s policies. “I must be involved in the appointment, as I was with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela,” Trump remarked.
Additionally, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated on March 6 that the United States is evaluating potential candidates for Iran’s leadership. “I know there are several individuals being considered by our intelligence services and the U.S. government, but I will not provide further details,” Levitt said.
Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed as Iran's Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. The new leader's influence will extend over key state institutions, while U.S. officials express concerns about the implications of this succession.