Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed Iran’s New Supreme Leader After Death of Ali Khamenei
Summary:
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has officially named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the reported killing of former leader Ali Khamenei during recent military strikes. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Iranian authorities have rejected any external involvement in the leadership decision, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has pledged loyalty to the new leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei Becomes Iran’s Third Supreme Leader
Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced on Sunday (March 8) that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In an official statement released after an extraordinary session, the Assembly said the decision was reached after extensive consultations and deliberations among its members.
The statement declared that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been formally appointed as the third Supreme Leader of Iran, following a decisive vote by the Assembly’s representatives.
The leadership transition follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during airstrikes amid the ongoing regional conflict.
Iran Rejects U.S. Influence Over Leadership Decision
The announcement came amid comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that Washington should have a role in approving Iran’s next leader.
Iran strongly rejected the idea of outside involvement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, stated that Iran alone would determine its leadership and would not permit foreign interference in its domestic matters.
Araghchi also criticised the United States for escalating tensions in the region and called on Trump to apologise to the people of the Middle East for initiating the conflict.
Earlier, Trump had publicly dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and warned that without U.S. approval, his leadership might not last long.
Israel had also issued warnings, saying any successor to Iran’s leadership could become a potential military target.
Revolutionary Guards Pledge Loyalty
Following the announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared its full support for the new Supreme Leader.
In a statement, the IRGC said it stands ready to obey the directives of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and remains committed to defending the Islamic Republic.
Mojtaba Khamenei is widely viewed as a conservative cleric with strong connections to the Revolutionary Guards, which play a powerful role in Iran’s political and military structure.
Iranian security official Ali Larijani praised the appointment, saying Mojtaba Khamenei had been trained in the leadership seminary and had learned extensively from his father.
Larijani expressed hope that the new leadership would guide Iran toward stability and development.
Iran-Israel-U.S. Conflict Intensifies
The leadership announcement comes as the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States enters its tenth day.
The escalation began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike on Iran, reportedly targeting key military and nuclear infrastructure. The strikes allegedly led to the death of Ali Khamenei.
Iran responded with drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf countries hosting U.S. military bases.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that military operations against Iran could continue for several weeks, while also asserting that the United States has sufficient military resources for a prolonged campaign.
Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its operations beyond Iran, launching strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon while continuing attacks on targets in Tehran.
Iran has ruled out negotiations with Washington following the strikes, stating that talks cannot continue under military pressure.
Amid the escalating violence, the United States has issued a rare advisory urging American citizens to leave the broader Middle East region, including Israel.
Iranian leaders have vowed retaliation for the death of Ali Khamenei.
Disclaimer
This report is based on publicly available information. Due to the ongoing conflict, claims, counterclaims, and unverified reports are circulating across multiple platforms. Independent verification of all statements, images, and social media content may not be possible at this time.