The Assembly of Experts has voted to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late theocratic leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader after his father’s death on 8 March amidst the unfolding war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The new leadership appointment brings a very low profile yet highly connected hardliner into the highest level of power in the Islamic Republic during one of the most perilous times in its existence.
He attended the seminary in Qom and has achieved clerical status as a Hojjatoney, which is the lowest level of clerical rank.
According to Reuters, he is a mid level cleric who never held any type of elected or formal government position but developed influence through to his late father and the religious and security establishments throughout Iran.
He also fought during the Iran/Iraq conflict as a young adult.
Mojtaba has long been seen by analysts and diplomats as one of Iran’s most influential unelected men, with close ties to the Basij militia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
He became a strong candidate for the throne thanks to that network, especially after other potential heirs lost ground.
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Because the Islamic Republic was established in opposition to monarchy and because detractors both inside and outside of Iran have long cautioned against anything resembling hereditary succession, his rise is controversial.
Even Ali Khamenei had expressed distaste for dynastic rule.
However, as Iran’s ruling class acted swiftly to fill the void left by Ali Khamenei’s passing, Mojtaba’s supporters within the Guards and the larger hardline camp seem to have outweighed those criticisms.
