TEHRAN, Iran, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has officially named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, a critical leadership transition following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei The appointment of the 56-year-old hardline cleric comes just over a week into a wider armed conflict with the United States and Israel, placing him at the helm of the Islamic Republic during what is described as its most significant crisis in its 47-year history
The announcement was made on Sunday by the 88-member clerical body, which called on Iranians to maintain unity and support the new leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late leader, has long been considered an influential, though low-profile, figure within the ruling establishment Despite never holding an elected or appointed government position, U.S. diplomats have previously referred to him as “the power behind the robes,” highlighting his role as a key behind-the-scenes operator
The succession takes place after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his wife were killed in a strike on February 28, 2026, that targeted the supreme leader’s offices in Tehran That attack initiated the ongoing war, which has included intense bombing of Iran The younger Khamenei was reportedly not present during the strike and has not been seen publicly since, having likely gone into hiding As the new Supreme Leader, he assumes final authority over all state matters, including command of the armed forces, as the conflict continues
Mohsin Rana
