Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? Iran names new Supreme Leader amid war with US, Israel

Before Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi had been named as interim leader.

Updated on: Mar 9, 2026, 10:34:13 IST

Edited by Danita Yadav

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named as the new Supreme Leader of Iran. His appointment comes after Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the conflict with the United States and Israel.

This handout picture taken in Tehran shows Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, (AFP)

Mojtaba's appointment comes after several senior clerics hinted that the successor will be related to Khamenei. Before his appointment, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi had been named as interim leader. Track LIVE updates on US Iran war here

Before Ali Khamenei's death, Mojtaba had been ruled out as a potential successor, as the slain Supreme Leader had wished for the top post to be determined by merit rather than be hereditary.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

Born on September 8, 1969, in the holy city of Mashhad in eastern Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is one of six children of the late supreme leader.

He is also the only child of the former supreme leader to hold a public position, despite having no official post.

The cleric, who has a salt-and-pepper beard and the black turban of the "seyyed", descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, has been presented by some as acting behind the scenes to pull strings at the heart of power in Iran.

Mojtaba is also regarded a close to conservatives, especially due to his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Iranian military.

In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Khamenei's son for representing the Supreme Leader despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father".

As per the US Treasury Department, Ali Khamenei had "delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities" to his son, "who worked closely" with Iranian security forces "to advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives."

(with inputs from Reuters, AFP)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.