Mojtaba Khamenei named new Supreme Leader of Iran

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

TEHRAN, IRAN — Iranian state television has officially announced that Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected as the country's new Supreme Leader, succeeding his assassinated father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The 56-year-old takes control of Iran's most powerful political and military office during a period of intense regional conflict, marking only the second leadership transition since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Consolidation of absolute power

As the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei assumes the role of commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He will also hold the final authority over state policies, including the nation's nuclear program. Although he previously held no official government position, he has long been considered a highly influential figure within Iran's ruling circles.

The Assembly of Experts, constitutionally tasked with selecting the leader, announced he was chosen with a "strong majority" and urged the public to unite behind him. Following the announcement, celebratory scenes were broadcast from various parts of Tehran.

Internal backing and US opposition

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps swiftly issued a statement supporting Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment. Furthermore, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah shared a photograph of the new leader, referring to him as the "leader of the blessed Islamic revolution". Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani told state television that the Assembly of Experts' decision to convene and elect a leader amid ongoing airstrikes was a "courageous step".

Conversely, US President Donald Trump explicitly voiced his opposition to the transition.

"Khamenei's son is not acceptable to me. We want someone who will bring peace and harmony to Iran," Trump stated.

Trump also argued that the United States should have a say in determining the leadership that takes power in Iran after the war.

Regional war escalates

The leadership change occurs as the regional fallout from the war continues to expand. Global oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel for the first time in three and a half years due to disruptions in oil production and transportation.

Gulf states are increasingly affected by the violence. Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant that supplies drinking water. In Saudi Arabia, military ordnance fell on a residential area, killing two foreign nationals from India and Bangladesh. Additionally, the US military announced the death of a soldier injured in a previous Iranian attack, bringing the total number of American military fatalities in the conflict to seven.

Mounting death toll

The human cost of the conflict is rising rapidly, according to the latest official figures:

• At least 1,230 people have died in Iran.

• At least 397 people have died in Lebanon.

• At least 11 people have died in Israel.

Furthermore, Israel announced the deaths of two additional soldiers during clashes in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government reported that more than 500,000 individuals have been displaced due to the ongoing week-long clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

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