Iran council ‘chooses new Supreme Leader’; strong indications point to Khamenei’s son Mojtaba

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has chosen a new Supreme Leader following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli airstrikes, senior clerics said on Sunday, though the name of the successor has not yet been formally announced. However, strong indications from members of the powerful clerical body suggest that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the late leader’s son, is the leading contender.

Members of the Assembly of Experts confirmed that a decision on the country’s next Supreme Leader has been made and that the name will be announced soon. Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the assembly, said the vote to appoint the leader had already taken place and the official declaration would be made by the body’s secretariat.

Hints from influential clerics have intensified speculation around Mojtaba Khamenei. One member of the assembly said the selected candidate fits the description advised by the late leader — someone disliked by Iran’s enemies. Referring to comments by US President Donald Trump calling Mojtaba “unacceptable,” the cleric said even the “Great Satan” had mentioned his name.

Mojtaba Khamenei, born in 1969 in the holy city of Mashhad, has largely remained out of public view despite holding significant influence within Iran’s political and security establishment. He has never held elected office and operates largely behind the scenes, but is believed to maintain strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other key power centres.

While Mojtaba remains the most widely discussed candidate, several other figures have been considered for the position. Names circulating within political and clerical circles include Ali Larijani, Sadeq Larijani, Alireza Arafi, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, Mohsen Araki and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The leadership transition comes at a critical moment for Iran, as the country remains locked in a widening conflict with the United States and Israel following the airstrikes that killed Ali Khamenei. Analysts say the selection of the next Supreme Leader will shape the country’s political direction, with many expecting the establishment to prioritise continuity and stability during the ongoing crisis.