A major political shift has taken place in Iran amid its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, as Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father Ali Khamenei. The 86-year-old leader reportedly died during a joint air operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Tehran on February 28, in which several members of his family were also said to have been killed. In response to the resulting political vacuum, Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, held an emergency meeting and unanimously selected Mojtaba as the country’s top leader.
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei. Although he has never held an official government position, he has long been considered an influential figure behind the scenes, playing a key role in managing his father’s office, known as “Beit Rahbari,” over the past two decades.
Mojtaba is also believed to maintain close ties with Iran’s powerful military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Reports indicate that he participated in the Iran–Iraq war during the 1980s, helping him establish strong connections within the country’s military and political establishment.
His appointment has sparked criticism over the possibility of hereditary rule in Iran, as the 1979 Islamic Revolution had ended the monarchy and opposed dynastic politics. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump strongly opposed the development, warning that no new Iranian leader would last long without American approval. Analysts say Mojtaba’s elevation suggests Iran is likely to continue its hardline policies amid escalating tensions with Israel and the United States.