Iran's Assembly of Experts has officially elected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the information was released by the Mehr News Agency. Prior to the formal announcement, Hossein Ali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, indicated that a successor had been chosen and that the name would be disclosed by officials shortly. The 57-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, a veteran of the Gulf War, is widely recognized as a staunch supporter of his father's political and ideological doctrine.
The leadership transition comes at a period of unprecedented regional instability. On February 28, military operations were initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched large-scale retaliatory strikes targeting facilities in Israel. Additionally, reports indicate that U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have also come under fire during the escalation. The strikes on Iran resulted in the death of the previous Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The Assembly of Experts is a deliberative body of 88 theologians charged with electing, supervising, and, if necessary, dismissing the Supreme Leader. Under the Iranian constitution, the Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over the state's political and religious affairs, serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and maintaining final say on foreign policy. The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei marks a significant moment in the history of the Islamic Republic, as the nation navigates a direct military confrontation with international powers.
