Overview
- On March 8, Iran’s Council of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader following Ali Khamenei’s Feb. 28 death in strikes attributed to the United States and Israel.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the head of Iran’s regular armed forces swiftly endorsed the choice, underscoring security establishment backing.
- President Donald Trump told U.S. outlets the decision was a “big mistake” and said the next leader would not last without Washington’s approval.
- Mojtaba Khamenei long operated behind the scenes within his father’s office, cultivating close ties with the IRGC despite holding no formal state post.
- Domestic critics warn of a shift toward hereditary rule and dispute his clerical standing, while U.S. sanctions since 2019 and recent reporting allege a concealed international property network linked to him.