Iranian authorities have appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the reported killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in recent military strikes.
According to Iranian officials, Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by senior leadership figures after mounting pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a dominant force within Iran’s political and military structure.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for decades, was reportedly killed during coordinated strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Iran launched retaliatory strikes across several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, further escalating tensions in the region.
Before Mojtaba’s appointment, Alireza Arafi had been named interim Supreme Leader on March 1, 2026, following Khamenei’s death.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is one of Ali Khamenei’s sons. Though he has largely maintained a low public profile, he is believed to have played an influential advisory role behind the scenes, assisting his father in various political and religious matters over the years.
His appointment marks a significant shift in Iran’s leadership at a time of heightened regional instability and international scrutiny.