Irans Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed Following Ayatollah Khameneis Passing

Iran Appoints New Supreme Leader Amid US-Israeli Tensions

Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old mid-ranking religious scholar, has been appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran by the country’s Assembly of Experts. The appointment comes just over a week after his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

Khamenei, who has strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and his late father’s still-influential office, is seen as a hardliner. His appointment was met with immediate backing from figures in Iran’s political and security establishment, including IRGC leaders, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Reactions to Khamenei’s appointment have been mixed, with Oman sending a “cable of congratulations” to him on Monday. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also congratulated Khamenei on his appointment, expressing confidence in Iran’s ability to manage its current challenges.

Outside the country, US President Donald Trump has made statements criticizing Khamenei’s appointment, saying that he thinks Tehran “made a big mistake” and that he should have had a say in appointing a new leader. Trump also stated that he has someone in mind to lead Iran but did not elaborate.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has threatened to kill any replacement for the late Ali Khamenei, describing Mojtaba Khamenei as a “tyrant” and saying that he will continue what his father described as the Iranian regime’s brutality. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged “unwavering support” to Iran, while China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that Iran’s decision to appoint the younger Khamenei was based on its constitution.

Khamenei received immediate backing from figures in Iran’s political and security establishment, including IRGC leaders, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Source: Al Jazeera