Tehran: Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been chosen as the new supreme leader of Iran following the death of his father.
According to reports carried by Iran International and Israeli media, the Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a recent joint attack carried out by the United States and Israel.
Until Mojtaba Khamenei formally assumes office, senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been appointed as interim leader. He will temporarily oversee the responsibilities of the supreme leadership until the new leader officially takes charge.
After the death of Ali Khamenei, discussions about his successor quickly intensified within Iran’s political and religious leadership. Among several names that were considered, Mojtaba Khamenei emerged as one of the most prominent candidates.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was born on September 8, 1969. Over the years he has been seen as an influential figure within Iran’s political system, although he has not held a major public government position.
Reports say he played an important role behind the scenes in managing his father’s office and maintaining strong links with powerful institutions in the country.
He is believed to have close connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other conservative political networks. Analysts say the influence of the Revolutionary Guard may have contributed to the decision to support his leadership.
Mojtaba Khamenei has also been associated with the response to protest movements in Iran in previous years and is known to have maintained strong ties with the country’s security establishment.
The reported leadership transition comes at a sensitive moment for Iran as the country faces growing tensions in the region and uncertainty following the death of its long serving leader. Observers say the development could have major implications for Iran’s political direction and its relations with the wider world.