TEHRAN (Kashmir English): Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, according to Iranian state media.
The Assembly of Experts has overwhelmingly elected Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, state media confirmed.
A senior Iranian scholar who participated in the vote had indicated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, would succeed him.
According to Iranian media, the Assembly of Experts elected the new Supreme Leader through a vote.
Speculation about his election had been rife since the day Ali Khamenei was martyred, but it has now been officially announced.
The decision comes after the election process for Iran’s highest religious and political authority, which is central to determining the country’s policy and future direction.
Who’s Mojtaba Khamenei
The 56-year-old is the second son of Ali Khamenei and has long been viewed as a “shadow power” within the regime.
He maintains exceptionally close relationships with the IRGC and the Basij paramilitary force.
He was born in Mashhad and, like his father, is a scholar. Mojtaba Khamenei is considered quite powerful in his father’s conservative circles.
He was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2019 for his influential role in his father’s inner circle and his alleged involvement in suppressing domestic protests.
How is the Supreme Leader Elected?
According to the Iranian constitution, an 88-member council of clerics selects the Supreme Leader. The council compiles a list of potential candidates based on their religious, political, and leadership qualifications.
On the other hand, according to The Conversation, it is not a truly impartial electoral body. The council’s candidates themselves are vetted by bodies ultimately formed by the Supreme Leader’s circle of influence, and its proceedings are secret.
