Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba elected as Iran's new supreme leader
The son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as Iran's new supreme leader. According to sources in the country, the decision was made by a council of 88 representatives of the highest Shiite clergy.
According to Deutsche Welle's interlocutors, the decision to elect Mojtaba Khamenei was made under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian authorities and state media have not yet confirmed this information.
Following the death of Ali Khamenei, a three-person council is temporarily leading Iran. It consists of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Head of the Judiciary Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, and member of the Guardian Council Ayatollah Alireza Arafat.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had led Iran since 1989. He died during a US and Israeli military operation against the Islamic Republic, which began on 28 February.
In Iran, the supreme leader is appointed by members of the Council of Experts. This state body consists of 88 people who are considered experts in Islamic law. They are elected by Iranian citizens every eight years. The last elections to the Council of Experts took place in 2024.
According to sources, the decision to elect Mojtaba Khamenei may have been made under pressure from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi and former head of the IRGC intelligence organisation Hossein Taeb.
These events are taking place against the backdrop of the war between Iran and the United States' allies. Israel and the United States began striking Iranian territory on the morning of 28 February. US President Donald Trump announced his intention to destroy the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme and called on the Iranian army to lay down its arms.
According to Iranian state media, as of 3 March, at least 787 people have been killed in the strikes.
Iran responded with strikes on Israel and several Persian Gulf countries, where casualties have also been reported. Tehran says it is not at war with Arab states, but is attacking US military bases in the region.
