Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced Sunday the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed during U.S. and Israeli strikes on the first day of the war.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, had survived the attack that killed the former leader, according to Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters prior to the official announcement.
“He is alive. He was not in Tehran when the Supreme Leader was killed,” one of the sources said.
Iranian authorities said several members of Khamenei’s family were killed in the same strike, including his wife Zahra Adel, his mother Mansoura Hojastha Bagherzadeh and one of his sons.
Leadership Decision Made Despite War
In a statement announcing the appointment, the Assembly of Experts said it had also considered the candidacy of Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini.
The body said the decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei was reached following “deep and comprehensive discussions,” despite the ongoing war and “direct threats from our enemy.”
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, said the new leader possessed the qualifications necessary to guide the country and called for “unity around the new Supreme Leader.”
Clerical Roots and Revolutionary Guard Service
Mojtaba Khamenei was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad, one of the most important religious centers for Twelver Shiite Islam.
His father, Ali Khamenei, was among the clerical activists who opposed the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah of Iran, during the years leading up to the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
After finishing high school in 1987, Mojtaba joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and served during the Iran–Iraq War.
Following the war and his father’s rise to supreme leader in 1989, he turned to religious studies and trained at seminaries in the holy city of Qom, later teaching courses there.
Powerful Networks Behind the Scenes
Over the years, Mojtaba Khamenei developed close ties with senior clerics and the leadership of the Revolutionary Guards. His involvement in his father’s office helped him build strong connections within Iran’s political and security establishment.
Despite his influence, he has largely maintained a low public profile, operating mainly behind the scenes within the power structure shaped by his father.
Public attention toward him first intensified during Iran’s 2005 presidential election, when conservative candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unexpectedly surged late in the campaign. Reformist politician Mehdi Karroubi later alleged that Mojtaba had used his influence to support Ahmadinejad’s victory.
Similar allegations resurfaced during Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election, when Ahmadinejad secured a second term amid mass protests across the country.
Opposition figures accused Mojtaba Khamenei of involvement in election interference and in organizing the violent crackdown on demonstrators.
Long Viewed as Possible Successor
Speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei as a potential successor to his father intensified in recent years.
In 2022, a media outlet linked to the Qom seminary began referring to him as an “Ayatollah,” a title generally reserved for senior Shiite clerics whose religious teachings are widely recognized.
Observers interpreted the move as a signal that he was being prepared for eventual leadership.
When the Assembly of Experts discussed succession scenarios in 2024, Ali Khamenei reportedly acknowledged that his son could be considered as a possible candidate.
Revolutionary Guards Backed the Appointment
According to officials cited by The New York Times, the Revolutionary Guards strongly supported Mojtaba’s appointment, arguing that his deep familiarity with Iran’s military and security structures made him the most suitable figure to lead the country during the current crisis.
“Mojtaba is the smartest choice right now because he has a deep understanding of managing and coordinating the security and military apparatus,” Tehran-based commentator Mehdi Rahmati told the newspaper.
However, analysts warn the decision could also trigger domestic tensions.
Analysts Warn of Possible Public Backlash
Some observers believe that appointing the son of the previous supreme leader could generate criticism within Iran.
Vali Nasr, an expert on Iran and Shiite Islam at Johns Hopkins University, noted that while Mojtaba had long been considered a potential successor, his appointment would still be politically significant.
“If he is elected, it would suggest that the more hardline camp within the regime, closely aligned with the Revolutionary Guards, has consolidated its influence,” Nasr said.
Supporters of the ruling establishment may view Mojtaba Khamenei as a continuation of a leader they regard as a martyr, while critics are likely to see his rise as a further entrenchment of Iran’s existing power structure.
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