Iran on Monday appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei who was killed in recent strikes amid the escalating conflict involving United States and Israel. The decision signals that Iran’s hardline leadership remains firmly in control even as the war in the region enters a critical phase.
The appointment was confirmed by the Assembly of Experts—a powerful body of 88 clerics responsible for selecting Iran’s Supreme Leader. In a statement released shortly after midnight Tehran time, the assembly said that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei had been chosen by a decisive vote to become the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
The post of Supreme Leader is the most powerful position in Iran’s political system, granting authority over the military, judiciary, and key state institutions. With this role, Mojtaba Khamenei now holds the final say in all major matters of governance and national policy.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with deep influence within Iran’s security establishment and extensive business networks developed during his father’s leadership, had long been viewed as a frontrunner for succession. His appointment follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in one of the first waves of strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, reacted strongly to the leadership change. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Trump suggested Washington should have influence over the choice of Iran’s leader, warning that Mojtaba might struggle to remain in power without American approval.
Meanwhile, Israel had earlier indicated that whoever assumed the role of Supreme Leader could become a target. Israeli forces have continued to conduct strikes against senior Iranian officials and military figures during the conflict.
In the latest development, Israel announced that Abolqasem Babaian—recently appointed head of the military office of the Supreme Leader—was killed in a strike on Saturday.
The war has already caused heavy casualties. According to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the ongoing US-Israeli attacks.
The United States has also suffered losses. The US military reported that a seventh American service member died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial retaliatory strikes last week. A day earlier, President Trump presided over the return of the remains of six other American personnel who were killed in the attacks.
Despite the rising death toll, Iran’s leadership has indicated it is not seeking to end hostilities. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, said Tehran was not pursuing a ceasefire and vowed that the country would punish those responsible for the attacks.
With Mojtaba Khamenei now at the helm of Iran’s political and religious leadership, analysts believe the conflict could enter a new and potentially more volatile phase as tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel continue to escalate.
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