Tehran, Iran – Web Desk: Iran’s Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader, state media announced early Monday, March 9, 2026.
The decision, confirmed by Iranian state television, follows the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, which ignited the current Middle East conflict now in its second week. Mojtaba Khamenei, a secretive mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and no prior elected or official government role, was selected after deliberations amid reported internal rifts.
The announcement came with calls for national unity, and footage showed public celebrations in Tehran. Iran’s military and political leaders, including the IRGC, pledged allegiance, while Hezbollah expressed support via social media.
As Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei holds ultimate authority over state affairs, serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and IRGC, and controls Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected Mojtaba Khamenei as a successor, stating he is “unacceptable” and that any new leader without US approval “is not going to last long.” Trump has demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender and emphasized no ground troops but continued strikes to dismantle missile and defense capabilities.
The succession signals continuity of hardline theocratic rule despite the war, which has seen intensified US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, including oil depots and infrastructure, and Iranian retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region.
Regional fallout continues: Bahrain accused Iran of striking a vital desalination plant, while Gulf states report civilian infrastructure damage. In Lebanon, over 500,000 people are displaced amid escalated Israel-Hezbollah clashes. Civilian casualties mount, with reports of toxic pollution risks in Tehran from struck oil facilities and warnings of prolonged oil supply disruptions driving global prices higher.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian hardened his stance, vowing stronger responses to pressure, while judiciary officials warned of ongoing attacks on regional targets used against Iran.
