Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei.
The decision was made public on Sunday, March 8, by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible under Iran’s constitution for selecting the country’s supreme leader.
In a statement circulated by state media, the Assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen after what it described as a “decisive vote.” It also called on citizens to remain united and support the new leader.
The statement urged Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and help preserve national unity.
The development comes just days after the killing of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989.
Reports indicate that he was killed on February 28 during a joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid rising regional tensions.
Before Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as the new leader, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, had publicly opposed the possibility of him assuming the role. Trump reportedly described Mojtaba as a “lightweight” and suggested he should not be involved in determining the country’s leadership.
