Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's New Supreme Leader Who Must Be Hated by Enemies
Iran has officially appointed a new Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts to lead the country.
Mojtaba succeeds his father, who was killed in attacks by the United States and Israel. The appointment of the 56-year-old cleric marks the continuation of hardline faction dominance in Iranian politics.
The Assembly of Experts, comprising 88 senior clerics, chose Mojtaba as the successor to the late Khamenei. The decision was made a week after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, a member of the Assembly of Experts, stated in a video on Sunday (8 March) that a candidate had been selected based on the late Khamenei’s directive that Iran’s Supreme Leader should be “hated by enemies”.
“Even the Great Satan has called his name,” said Alekasir in a statement made days after US President Donald Trump called Mojtaba an unacceptable choice for him.
Mojtaba’s Influence in the Power Circle
Mojtaba consolidated power under his father as a senior figure close to Iran’s security forces and the major business empire they control. He opposed reformists seeking to establish relations with the West in efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme.
His close relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gave Mojtaba additional influence throughout Iran’s political and security apparatus. According to sources familiar with his background, Mojtaba has also built behind-the-scenes influence as a “gatekeeper” to his father.
Iran’s Supreme Leader holds the authority to make final decisions on state matters, including foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme. Western powers seek to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, whilst Iran repeatedly states that its nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes.
On the other hand, Mojtaba may face resistance from Iranian citizens who have demonstrated readiness to organise mass protests to press their demands for greater freedoms, despite brutal repression by Tehran’s security authorities.
Background of Mojtaba Khamenei
Mojtaba was born in 1969 in the holy city of Mashhad and grew up whilst his father helped lead opposition resistance against the Shah. In his youth, he served with the Iranian military during the Iran-Iraq War.
He subsequently studied under conservative religious scholars in Qom, the centre of Shia learning, and holds the title of Hojjatoleslam. Mojtaba has never held a formal position in Iran’s government but has appeared in loyalist actions, though he rarely speaks publicly.
Controversy and Criticism
Mojtaba’s role has long been controversial in Iran. Critics reject any form of dynastic politics in a country that overthrew a US-backed monarchy in 1979.
Critics also argue that Mojtaba lacks sufficient religious qualifications to serve as Iran’s Supreme Leader. The title of Hojjatoleslam that he holds is one rank below the position of Ayatollah, the rank held by his late father and Ruhollah Khomenei, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, despite this criticism, Mojtaba remained the principal candidate for Iran’s Supreme Leader after other leading candidates, including former President Ebrahim Raisi, died in a helicopter crash in 2024.
United States Sanctions
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019. The US government stated that he represented the Supreme Leader in an “official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position”, whilst working in his father’s office.
On its website, it noted that the late Khamenei had previously delegated some of his responsibilities to Mojtaba. He is also said to work closely with the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force and Basij, a paramilitary force affiliated with the IRGC.