Newly elected Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei delivers first message vowing revenge for martyrs

Wednesday, 04 March 2026 | Web Desk

Israeli media has reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been elected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts (Majlis-e-Khobregan). Iranian officials have not yet officially confirmed the claim.

According to Israeli media reports, Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for appointing, supervising, and potentially dismissing the Supreme Leader . The reports suggest the election occurred under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Succession Process Underway

Earlier, Israeli media had claimed that the 88-member Assembly of Experts was conducting the selection of the new Supreme Leader online, with the matter having entered its final stages.

Under Iran’s constitution, the selection of the Supreme Leader rests entirely with the Assembly of Experts . This body consists of 88 senior Islamic jurists and clerics who are directly elected by popular vote every eight years . Their primary responsibility is to appoint a new leader in the event of death, resignation, or incapacity .

Mojtaba Khamenei’s Profile

Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-level Shiite cleric, has long been considered a potential successor to his father. He maintains strong ties to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the Basij volunteer force. However, he has never held formal government office, and his potential selection has raised questions as the Islamic Republic has historically criticized hereditary rule.

The 56-year-old, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s second oldest son, was sanctioned by the US in 2019 . Unlike several family members, Mojtaba survived the US-Israeli strikes that killed his father .

Interim Leadership Council

Following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s martyrdom, a provisional three-member Leadership Council was formed to guide the country through the transition . The council consists of:

President Masoud Pezeshkian
Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a senior cleric and Khamenei confidant appointed as the jurist member of the Guardian Council

This interim body will oversee state functions until the Assembly of Experts officially elects and announces a permanent successor.

Burial Arrangements in Mashhad

On the other side, Iranian media has announced that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad following a large mourning ceremony in Tehran. The late Supreme Leader was originally from Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, where his father is buried at the Imam Reza shrine .

According to Fars News Agency, the main mourning ceremony will be held at Imam Khomeini Hall in Tehran, after which his body will be laid to rest in Mashhad. However, the date of burial has not yet been determined.

The mourning and farewell ceremonies are expected to begin on Wednesday and continue through Friday, allowing members of the public, state officials, and foreign delegations to participate in commemorations .

No Official Confirmation

Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the Israeli media claims regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection. The Assembly of Experts’ headquarters in Qom was reportedly hit by US-Israeli strikes, and for “security reasons,” the assembly’s final meeting could be postponed until after Khamenei’s burial .

The situation remains fluid as the world awaits official word from Tehran on one of the most consequential leadership transitions in the Islamic Republic’s history.