Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? The shadowy figure leading Iran

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

TEHRAN, IRAN — The Assembly of Experts in Iran has officially announced that Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected as the new Supreme Leader, replacing his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli attacks. This appointment makes Mojtaba Khamenei the third Supreme Leader in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Assembly of Experts stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was elected with a "strong majority" and called on the public to unite around the new leader.

A figure away from the public eye

The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since the beginning of the war. His father, Ali Khamenei, lost his life in an Israeli airstrike targeting the supreme leadership office in Tehran. Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, Zehra Haddad-Adel, was also killed in the same attack.

Born in the city of Mashhad in 1969, Mojtaba Khamenei served on the frontlines during the Iran-Iraq War in his youth. He later studied at religious educational institutions in Qom, steadily rising within clerical circles. According to analysts, he forged strong relationships with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and various security agencies during this period. These connections reportedly helped him build a crucial support network within Iran's power structure.

The power in the shadows

Despite never assuming an official state role, Mojtaba Khamenei has long been recognized as an influential figure in Iranian politics. While his brothers were largely confined to cultural or administrative duties, his name was frequently associated with security institutions and closed power networks.

Western media has occasionally published allegations claiming he possesses immense wealth and properties in Europe. However, due to the lack of transparency in Iran's economic structures, these claims are noted to be difficult to verify. Inside Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is generally not viewed as a businessman but rather as a highly effective political figure owing to his close ties with political and security circles.

Clerical career and academic rise

After graduating from a high school in Tehran, Mojtaba Khamenei pursued religious education in Qom. During his studies, he was taught by prominent clerics such as Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi and Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

For nearly 15 years, he taught at the "dars-e kharej" level, which represents the most advanced stage of Islamic jurisprudence. Teaching at this level is considered a vital academic milestone on the path to the Supreme Leader position. According to religious institutions in Qom, he officially received the title of "Ayatollah" in 2022.

A controversial political legacy

Mojtaba Khamenei's name first gained widespread public attention during the 2005 Iranian presidential elections. Reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi had alleged that Mojtaba intervened in the election process in favor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. During the protests that erupted after the disputed 2009 elections, demonstrators frequently chanted slogans directly targeting Mojtaba Khamenei.

His ascension to the supreme leadership has also reignited debates within Iranian politics regarding "father-to-son" succession. The 1979 Islamic Revolution was fundamentally built on the rejection of the monarchy. Consequently, the appointment of a leader's son to the same office is viewed by some circles as an ideological contradiction.

In contrast, his supporters argue that Mojtaba Khamenei has been at the very center of the state's decision-making mechanism for over two decades. They maintain that he is the strongest candidate capable of ensuring the continuity of the system, thanks to his robust ties with the security apparatus.

Taking charge amidst war

Mojtaba Khamenei's tenure as Supreme Leader begins at a time when Iran is actively at war with the United States and Israel.

Analysts suggest this situation could yield two different outcomes:

• External pressure might unite military and hardline factions around the new leader.

• At the same time, the war and accompanying sanctions will likely increase economic and political strain, creating a massive test for his administration.

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