In spite of US President Donald Trump’s threat that he would eliminate any new Iranian leader he does not endorse, the country has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced the decision on Sunday, saying Mojtaba Khamenei was selected after what it described as a “decisive vote.”
In a statement circulated by state media, the clerical body called on Iranians to maintain unity and support the new leader.
It urged citizens, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and preserve national unity.
The appointment comes days after the death of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989.
He was reportedly killed on February 28 during a joint United States and Israeli air operation targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid escalating conflict in the region.
His death triggered intense speculation over who would succeed him, with Mojtaba Khamenei widely considered one of the frontrunners despite concerns within Iran’s political and religious establishment about the possibility of hereditary leadership.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric believed to have strong ties to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has long wielded significant influence behind the scenes in the Islamic Republic’s political system.
Before the announcement, Donald Trump had publicly opposed the prospect of Mojtaba becoming Iran’s leader, reportedly describing him as a “lightweight” and suggesting he should not be allowed to play a role in determining the country’s leadership.
Iran’s constitution assigns the Assembly of Experts the responsibility of selecting the country’s supreme leader, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic, with ultimate control over state policy, the military and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection marks one of the most consequential political transitions in Iran in decades and comes amid ongoing regional tensions following the killing of his father.
