Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body tasked under Iran’s constitution with selecting the nation’s top leader.
State media said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen through what the Assembly described as a “decisive vote.”
The statement called on citizens to stay united and back the new leader.
It also urged Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge loyalty and help maintain national unity.
Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 during a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid rising regional tensions.
His death had fueled speculation over his successor, with Mojtaba Khamenei considered a leading candidate despite some opposition within Iran’s political and religious circles over the idea of passing leadership hereditarily.
A mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba is known for his close connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long held influence behind the scenes in Iran’s political system.
Before the official announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly opposed Mojtaba as Iran’s leader.
Trump called Mojtaba a “lightweight” and insisted that he should have a role in the country’s leadership.
Under the Iranian constitution, the Assembly of Experts has the authority to select the Supreme Leader, who holds the highest political and religious power, controlling state policy, the military, and the judiciary.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment represents one of the most important political transitions in Iran in decades and comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East following the death of his father.
KanyiDaily recalls that President Donald Trump recently mocked Iran after the country apologised to its neighbours over retaliatory airstrikes.
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