Tehran (Web Desk): Iran’s Assembly of Experts on Sunday appointed the 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Iran’s state media, the decision was made after members of the Assembly of Experts voted in his favour, securing majority support and making him the country’s third supreme leader since the establishment of the Islamic Republic.
As the newly chosen leader, Mojtaba Khamenei assumes the highest political and religious authority in the country, a position that gives him decisive influence over Iran’s domestic governance and foreign policy.
Official sources described the appointment as a historic development for the nation.
The Assembly of Experts also called on the Iranian public to remain united and pledge loyalty to the newly appointed leader, emphasizing that national cohesion is crucial under the current circumstances.
Mojtaba was born in 1969 in Mashhad and spent his early years during a period when his father was actively involved in the opposition movement against the Shah. As a young man, he served during the Iran–Iraq War.
He later pursued religious education in the seminaries of Qom, Iran’s main centre for Shia theological studies, where he attained the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam.
Reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei has for decades been regarded as an influential figure within the inner circle surrounding the supreme leadership. He is also believed to maintain strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Despite longstanding speculation over succession, he has never publicly spoken in detail about the possibility of assuming the role.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed the appointment, saying the decision marks the beginning of a new era of dignity and strength for the country.
Secretary General of the National Security Council Ali Larijani also expressed confidence in the leadership transition, stating that the new supreme leader is capable of guiding the country during a sensitive period. The leadership of Iran’s armed forces has likewise declared its loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei.
Meanwhile, officials in the United States (US) and Israel have cautioned that the leadership change is likely to remain a matter of international sensitivity.