Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has been appointed Iran’s new supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, during joint Israeli-American airstrikes on February 28, 2026. His selection signals a continuation of the Islamic Republic’s hard-line policies and further consolidation of conservative and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) influence.
Though previously a low-profile figure, Mojtaba held a pivotal role behind the scenes within his father’s office, coordinating among political, security, and religious elites. Despite lacking formal political experience, he has long maintained close ties to security forces, and his rise alters Iran's internal power balance in favor of the IRGC.
His appointment comes amid heightened external threats, with strong opposition expressed by U.S. President Donald Trump and direct warnings from Israel. Airstrikes have also targeted sites connected to Iran's leadership succession. Mojtaba’s religious rank was quickly elevated from hujjat al-Islam to ayatollah to legitimize his new role, as was done for his father in 1989. The regime has responded with calls for unity, and early signs suggest the political and clerical elites are rallying around him to maintain regime stability amid war and foreign pressure.
