Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader

Iran has named Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, according to state media. Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the current U.S.-israel military operation against Iran.

The announcement was reported Sunday by Tasnim, which said Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei by an overwhelming majority to become the third leader of the Islamic Republic. Iranian media said the vote formally makes Mojtaba Khamenei the successor to Ali Khamenei.

Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 during a series of Israeli airstrikes around Tehran targeting senior Iranian officials.

Mojtaba Khamenei has long been viewed as one of the most influential figures inside Iran’s clerical establishment, despite holding no public profile comparable to his father’s.

Over the years, he has been widely seen as close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and as a key figure within the networks surrounding the supreme leader’s office, according to Reuters.

The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over Iran’s armed forces, judiciary, state broadcasting and major organs of government.

Iranian media offered no immediate additional details about the selection process beyond saying the vote was decisive.