Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader After Death of Ali Khamenei

Tehran — Mojtaba Khamenei has been named the new Supreme Leader of Iran, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, in a move that underscores the continued dominance of hardline leadership in Tehran amid escalating tensions with the United States and Israel.

The decision was announced early Monday by the Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s Supreme Leader. In a statement issued shortly after midnight local time, the assembly said it had voted decisively to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

A mid-ranking cleric believed to hold significant influence within Iran’s security establishment and the economic networks associated with his father’s leadership, Mojtaba Khamenei had long been considered a leading contender for the role.

The position of Supreme Leader is the most powerful office in Iran, granting authority over key institutions including the military, judiciary and major political bodies.

His appointment comes at a time of intense regional conflict. Donald Trump, President of the United States, said Washington should have a say in Iran’s leadership transition and warned that the new leader’s tenure might face challenges without international acceptance.

Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran for decades, was reportedly killed during one of the initial strikes carried out against the country on February 28 after hostilities erupted between Iran and the US-Israel alliance.

The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties. The US military confirmed that a seventh American service member had died from injuries sustained during Iran’s initial retaliatory strikes. The announcement followed the return of the remains of six other American personnel to the United States.

According to Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, the ongoing military campaign has led to the deaths of at least 1,332 Iranian civilians, with thousands more reported injured.

Despite calls from Washington for Iran to surrender, Tehran’s leadership signalled it would continue to resist. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s parliament, stated that the country was not seeking a ceasefire and would continue its response against those responsible for the attacks.

Meanwhile, Israel said it had killed Abolqasem Babaian, recently appointed head of the Supreme Leader’s military office, in an airstrike.

As the fighting entered its ninth day, residents in Tehran reported thick smoke rising over parts of the city after strikes targeted oil storage facilities, lighting up the night sky with large flames.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and accused the attackers of committing war crimes, saying that strikes on fuel depots could release hazardous materials into the air.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, defended the strikes, stating that the targeted facilities were linked to Iran’s military infrastructure and warning that the campaign against Iran would continue.

With inputs from IANS