By The South Asia Times

TEHRAN - Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late leader Ali Khamenei, has been appointed as the new supreme leader of Iran, marking a dramatic moment in the country’s political history following the death of his father in recent US–Israeli airstrikes.

 

The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical council responsible for selecting Iran’s highest authority. Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation effectively places him at the helm of a political and religious system his father dominated for nearly four decades.

 

On Sunday night, millions of Iranians reportedly poured into the streets across major cities, including Tehran, to celebrate the announcement. Crowds waved national flags and chanted slogans supporting the new leader, scenes state media described as a demonstration of popular backing during a time of war and national crisis.

There were also chants against the US and Israel.

 

The appointment follows a period of intense conflict in which coordinated strikes by the US and Israel targeted Iranian military and strategic sites. Iranian media reported that over 1,000 civilians, including over 200 children, and several members of the Khamenei family were also killed in the attacks, including relatives of the former supreme leader.

 

 

Born in 1969, Mojtaba Khamenei has long been viewed as an influential but largely behind-the-scenes figure in Iranian politics.

 

Though he rarely appeared publicly, analysts say he maintained close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and played a role in shaping political decisions within his father’s inner circle.

 

His appointment has drawn criticism from some foreign leaders. Donald Trump, president of the United States, recently said such a succession would be “unacceptable,” reflecting deep tensions between Washington and Tehran. While China and Russia welcomed the appointment of Mojtaba and called it an internal matter. 

 

Supporters inside Iran say the leadership transition represents continuity for the Islamic Republic at a time of external pressure and war. Critics, however, argue it signals the consolidation of power within a small circle of hardline political and military elites.