Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, elected new Supreme Leader of Iran: Report

Mojtaba was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad. He grew up at a time when his father was involved in leading opposition to the Shah.

Updated on: Mar 4, 2026, 08:57:38 IST

Edited by Aryan Mudgal

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The son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly been elected as the new leader of the country by Iran's Assembly of Experts. The appointment comes after days of speculation over who would step in after his father was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who is also Khamenei’s eldest son, was chosen to take charge of the country by Iran’s Assembly of Experts. (AP/Reuters)

The 56-year-old, who is also Khamenei’s eldest son, was chosen to take charge of the country by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, Iranian International reported on Tuesday. The report, citing sources, also said that Mojtaba was elected under pressure from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Follow US-Iran war live updates here.

His selection, however, may raise questions, as the Islamic Republic has often criticised hereditary rule and presented itself as a fairer system. Khamenei himself reportedly did not include him in a list of possible successors he prepared last year. Within Iran's Shia Muslim clerical establishment, succession from father to son is not viewed positively.

ALSO READ | Mojtaba Khamenei family, net worth: All about wife Zahra Haddad Adel and kids

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric. He has never held office and has no formal position in the regime. However, he is believed to hold considerable influence behind the scenes.

Notably, he also has close ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

He fought in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq War. Mojtaba was among the Khamenei family members who survived, while the late supreme leader's wife, daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were killed.

The US treasury department put sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, saying that he acted on behalf of the former supreme leader in "an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position" other than working in his father’s office.

Mojtaba was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad. He grew up at a time when his father was involved in leading opposition to the Shah.

With inputs from agencies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aryan Mudgal
Aryan Mudgal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly three years of experience. He is part of the digital news team at HT and enjoys covering day-to-day news and writing long, detailed explainers on key national and global affairs. He takes particular interest in reading and writing about Indian politics, crime, civic issues, as well as global affairs. He goes berserk when covering elections, especially Lok Sabha and assembly polls, and always looks out for fresh stories that could intrigue readers. At Hindustan Times, Aryan has covered various major events, including the Bihar assembly elections, Maharashtra civic polls, the US' military action in Venezuela, Union Budget, and Bangladesh elections. He has previously worked with the explainers team at Firstpost and the news desk at Times Network, covering a range of events including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Israel–Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh’s student protests and Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Delhi assembly elections, and more. He completed his bachelor’s degree in CEP (Communications & Media, English, and Psychology) from Christ University, Bengaluru, and later pursued a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He hails from Siliguri in West Bengal and enjoys reading about politics and day-to-day issues concerning the state. Outside of work, Aryan loves listening to music and enjoys rewatching his favourite comfort shows.Read More

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