Son of Ali Khamenei named Iran’s Supreme Leader – Reports
Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been appointed as the country’s new Supreme Leader.
According to opposition outlet Iran International, the 56-year-old was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, allegedly under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with whom he is said to have close ties.
Mojtaba is not a senior cleric, has never held public office, and does not occupy any formal government position.
However, he served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war and is widely believed to hold significant behind-the-scenes influence. For years, he has been mentioned as a possible successor to his father.
Reports indicate that he was not among three senior clerics his father had reportedly identified last year as potential successors.
In the past, Ali Khamenei was also said to oppose the idea of his son succeeding him, as it could resemble hereditary rule similar to that of the US-backed Shah monarchy that was overthrown during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
