Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, marking a major leadership transition in the Islamic republic.
The decision was made public on Sunday by the country’s assembly of experts, which said the appointment followed what it described as a decisive vote.
In a statement circulated through state media, the clerical body called on citizens to rally behind the new leadership and maintain national cohesion.
It urged citizens, especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities, to pledge allegiance to the leadership and preserve national unity.
The announcement follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran as supreme leader since 1989.
He was killed on February 28 during a joint United States, US, and Israeli air operation that targeted leadership sites in Tehran amid heightened regional hostilities.
His killing sparked widespread debate over who would take over the powerful position, with Mojtaba Khamenei frequently mentioned among the leading contenders.
However, his possible succession had raised concerns among some political and religious figures within Iran who feared the move could signal the emergence of dynastic leadership in the Islamic Republic.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric, is believed to maintain close links with Iran’s influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long been viewed as a key power broker operating largely behind the scenes within the country’s political structure.
Prior to the announcement, Donald Trump had publicly criticized the possibility of Mojtaba assuming the role, referring to him as a lightweight and arguing that he should not influence the process of selecting Iran’s top leader.
Under Iran’s constitution, the assembly of experts holds the authority to appoint the supreme leader, who serves as the highest figure in the country’s political system and exercises ultimate control over state policy, the armed forces, and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation to the position represents one of the most significant political developments in Iran in recent decades, coming at a time of escalating tensions in the middle east following his father’s killing.
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