Iran's Assembly of Experts elects the late Supreme Leader's son as successor.
Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, marking a shift to hereditary rule after his father's assassination.
In a dramatic turn amid escalating regional conflict, Iran has reportedly elected Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, 2026. The elder Khamenei, who held the position since 1989, was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes, plunging the Islamic Republic into a power vacuum during active wartime.
An interim three-person leadership council, including figures like Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, briefly assumed control to maintain stability while the Assembly of Experts—an 88-member body of senior clerics—convened to select a permanent successor under Iran's constitution.
Reports from outlets such as Iran International, citing informed sources, indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei, aged around 56, was chosen by the Assembly on or around March 3, 2026, reportedly under heavy pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This marks a controversial shift toward hereditary rule in a system founded on anti-monarchical principles after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mojtaba, a Shiite cleric with longstanding behind-the-scenes influence and close IRGC ties but no prior formal public office, emerged as the frontrunner among potential candidates. While some Iranian state media has not fully confirmed the appointment, international sources describe it as a move to ensure regime continuity amid ongoing hostilities.
The succession carries profound implications for Iran's future stability and its confrontations with the US and Israel. Critics argue that installing Khamenei's son betrays revolutionary ideals and could fuel internal dissent, while hard-liners view it as a defiant stand against external threats.
Israel has vowed to target any new leader, adding to the risks. As mourning continues and the war rages, Mojtaba's leadership will be tested immediately—potentially defining whether the Islamic Republic endures or faces deeper fractures.
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