New Delhi: Twelve days after the assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint Israel-US operation, the Assembly of Experts has chosen his son Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
In a statement released just after midnight Tehran time, the 88-member body of clerics confirmed the transition, which signals that the hardline fraction remains in control. In a statement, the assembly said, “By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
This makes the 56-year-old Seyyed Mojtaba the final authority in all military and state matters.
The transition came less than two weeks after Mojtaba’s father Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, was killed in the initial strike on 28 February by the Israeli Air Force in collaboration with the US intelligence.
During the transition, Tehran witnessed heavy bombing, specifically targeting its fuel depots and military infrastructure, including missile systems, which resulted in thick smoke over the capital.
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Who is Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei?
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, a pilgrimage city in northeast Iran, Mojtaba was raised in a religious environment when his father was an active revolutionary against the Shah Dynasty, the ruling monarch of Iran till 1979.
His political stature grew significantly when he served under the Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion, a division of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during the Iran-Iraq war.
During his service, he made connections with multiple officials who later rose to rank in the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus.
Mojtaba has always kept his profile restricted, as he has never served in political office. In the public sphere, he has been viewed as a cleric with extensive religious education from the seminaries of Qom.
His influence grew significantly when his father, Ali Khamenei, became the Supreme Leader in 1989. During that time, he functioned as a confidant, gatekeeper, and power broker. This also enabled him to build a vast business network and maintain deep ties within the security establishment.
Power and strategic influence
His power in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) significantly grew during his father’s consistent support of the corps during his tenure. Mojtaba’s ties became more ingrained due to his close working with the commanders of the expeditionary Quds Force and the Basij.
His reach in the Iranian system has been unmatched, as the US diplomatic cables published in the late 2000s revealed that he served as his father’s ‘principal gatekeeper’ and has even formed his own independent power base within the system.
It is also believed that he has access to critical stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, given his close proximity to the authorities.
His control over the civilian government has also been documented, including his role in supporting the re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Due to his conduct, Mojotaba was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019.
A strategic signal to the West
Mojtaba’s appointment has also been viewed as a strategic signal beyond West Asia due to his hardline approach in the past. By choosing him, the Assembly of Experts has rejected calls for moderation.
His appointment has already drawn sharp criticism from the West, including Israel, which even vowed to disrupt the meeting of the Assembly of Experts.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in an X post issued the warning stating, “After neutralizing the tyrant Khamenei, the terrorist regime of Iran is attempting to rebuild itself and select a new leader.”
“We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor. We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you, either. This is a warning!” added IDF.
In the past, the US President Donald Trump has characterised Mojtaba as a “lightweight” and “unacceptable”, and insisted that the US should have a say in the selection. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long,” Trump told reporters.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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