Iran’s Assembly of Experts has reportedly selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the Islamic Republic’s next leader, according to a report by Iran International on Tuesday. The news cites sources familiar with the decision and suggests the vote took place under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Senior Israeli officials indicated that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba’s appointment in the coming hours. Earlier, Iranian media reported that members of the 88-member Assembly were not present in the Qom building targeted by Israeli strikes earlier Tuesday and were preparing to name a successor following the death of the supreme leader during Operation Roaring Lion.
Mojtaba, the second son of the late leader, is aligned with Iran’s hardline conservative faction and has publicly supported suppressing internal opposition and adopting assertive policies toward foreign adversaries. A cleric who teaches Shiite theology in Qom, Mojtaba has never held a formal government office but is believed to wield significant influence behind the scenes, particularly through his close ties with the IRGC.
Analysts have described him as a “gatekeeper” within his father’s inner circle. The United States sanctioned Mojtaba in 2019, stating he effectively represented the supreme leader despite holding no official title. His elevation has raised questions about a possible hereditary transfer of power, which some say recalls pre-1979 monarchy, and critics note he is not considered a senior cleric by traditional standards.
Iranian state media has yet to confirm the selection. Under the constitution, the supreme leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, whose members are elected but approved by the Guardian Council, and the role oversees the military, judiciary, and key state institutions.
