According to Iranian state news agencies, Mojtaba Khamenei has been officially appointed as the new religious leader of Iran and the successor to his father, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
Rumors about Mojtaba’s succession began circulating shortly after the Israeli and U.S. airstrikes that reportedly killed Ali Khamenei, but the appointment was officially announced on Sunday. He is the third Supreme Leader of Iran and the first to inherit the position directly from his father. Mojtaba Khamenei has been subject to U.S. sanctions since 2019.
Fox News reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disapproval of Mojtaba’s appointment, saying the United States wanted a leader who would bring peace and reconciliation within Iran rather than prolong conflicts.
Trump stated:
“Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is unacceptable to me. We need someone who will bring harmony to Iran. He wastes time and is weak. I should have a say in Iran’s new leader, as I did with Venezuela. The new leader must gain our approval, otherwise he will not last long.”
Simultaneously, the Israeli Defense Forces issued a warning to Iran’s Assembly of Experts, threatening to strike if the body convenes to select the new leadership. Israel stated it would target anyone involved in the succession process.
Observers are divided on Mojtaba Khamenei’s likely policies: some expect him to continue his father’s hardline approach, while others believe the recent deaths of family members in U.S. and Israeli strikes could make him even more resistant to Western pressure.
International affairs analyst Sher Hassan Hasan noted:
“Having a central decision-making authority in Iran is critical in the current context. There are debates over whether the leadership should pass hereditarily from father to son after Ali Khamenei’s death.”
Former diplomat Aziz Maarij commented:
“Ali Khamenei was targeted by the Americans for their own interests. If Mojtaba does not comply with the West, especially the U.S., and follows his father’s path, he could also be removed.”
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is considered one of the most secretive and enigmatic figures in Iran’s power structure. Unlike his father, he has largely stayed out of public life, held no official government position, avoided public speeches, and rarely interacted with the media. Only a few photos and videos of him exist.
Born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei and one of six children. Rumors about his influence within Iran’s leadership have circulated for years due to his close ties with his father.
