Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba named as Iran's new supreme leader Iranian TV network reports
- 17GEN4
- 42 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In a dramatic turn amid escalating regional conflict, reports emerged on March 3, 2026, claiming that Mojtaba Khamenei, the second-eldest son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran's new Supreme Leader.
The development follows the confirmed death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, who was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other sites late last week. Iranian state media, including television and the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), verified his death, which also claimed family members, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages targeting Israeli and U.S. positions across the Middle East, intensifying the ongoing war.
Citing sources familiar with the process, opposition-linked outlet Iran International reported that Iran's Assembly of Experts—an 88-member body of Shiite clerics responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader—elected Mojtaba Khamenei under significant pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC, Iran's elite military and ideological force with which Mojtaba has long-standing ties, reportedly influenced the decision amid the power vacuum and ongoing strikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, a mid-level cleric who served in the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War and has wielded behind-the-scenes influence—including alleged oversight of intelligence, Basij paramilitary elements, and even business interests—has never held public office. He was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019. While long speculated as a potential successor, his selection raises eyebrows in Iran's clerical establishment, which has historically opposed hereditary rule in the Islamic Republic founded on revolutionary principles against monarchy.
No official confirmation has come from Iranian state channels or the Assembly of Experts as of the latest reports. A three-person interim council—including President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, and senior cleric Alireza Arafi—has held transitional authority since Khamenei's death, per constitutional provisions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated over the weekend that a permanent successor would be named early this week, though the chaotic security environment may delay formal announcement.
Other contenders previously discussed in media and analyst circles included:
Alireza Arafi, a hardline cleric heading Iran's seminary system.
Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, a conservative figure in the Assembly.
Hassan Khomeini, grandson of founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, seen as more moderate.
Mojtaba's rise could signal a consolidation of hardline, IRGC-dominated control during wartime, potentially escalating tensions further. Iranian semi-official media like Mehr News Agency emphasized that Mojtaba is "in full health" and actively reviewing national affairs, countering earlier rumors of his injury or death in the strikes.
The situation remains fluid, with no independent verification of the election outcome and ongoing military exchanges. Senior Israeli officials suggested a formal announcement could come within hours, while global observers watch for signs of internal stability—or fracture—in the Islamic Republic.
Comments