Iran Appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as New Supreme Leader After Father’s Death
Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to reports from Iranian state media cited by Al Jazeera.
The decision was announced on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, which stated that Mojtaba Khamenei emerged victorious after what it described as a “decisive vote” by the clerical council.
In a statement carried by state media, the body called on citizens to remain united and rally behind the new leadership. It also urged Iranians, particularly “the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the new Supreme Leader and safeguard national cohesion.
The leadership transition follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989. Reports indicate that he was killed on February 28 during a joint military operation carried out by the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.
Read Also:
His death triggered widespread speculation over his successor, with Mojtaba Khamenei widely considered a leading contender despite concerns among sections of Iran’s political and religious establishment over the potential emergence of hereditary leadership.
A mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to maintain close ties with the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long been regarded as a powerful figure operating behind the scenes within Iran’s political system.
Prior to the announcement, former United States President Donald Trump publicly opposed the possibility of Mojtaba assuming Iran’s highest office, reportedly describing him as a “lightweight” and arguing that he should not play a role in determining the country’s leadership.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts is vested with the authority to select the Supreme Leader, the highest-ranking official in the Islamic Republic who holds ultimate power over national policy, the military, and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s emergence as Supreme Leader marks one of the most significant political transitions in Iran in decades and comes at a time of heightened regional tensions following the killing of his father.
By PRNigeria
