Mojtaba Khamenei has been named the new Supreme Leader of Iran, according to announcements broadcast on state television. He succeeds his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed at his compound in Tehran during the initial wave of strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
A statement issued by the Assembly of Experts — the body responsible for appointing Iran’s Supreme Leader — was read on state television. The statement said the assembly continued its deliberations despite wartime conditions and damage to its secretariat offices caused by recent attacks, which reportedly resulted in casualties among staff and security personnel.
Following the announcement, the television presenter declared Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new leader.
Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei
Born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second of six children of Ali Khamenei. He completed his secondary education at the Alavi School in Tehran before pursuing religious studies.
According to Iranian media reports, he briefly served in the military during the Iran–Iraq War while still a teenager. In 1999, he moved to Qom, a major centre of Shia religious scholarship, to continue his studies.
Unlike his father, Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained a relatively low public profile. He has not held formal government positions and has rarely appeared in public or given interviews.
However, diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s suggested that he was widely viewed by some observers as an influential figure within the Iranian political establishment, according to reports by Associated Press.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, and further details about the leadership transition are expected in the coming days.