Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader

Iran’s clerical leadership has appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli air strikes earlier this month.

The Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting Iran’s top authority, announced early Monday that a majority of members backed the 56-year-old cleric. The assembly called on the Iranian public, political leaders, and senior clergy to pledge allegiance to the new leader.

Key developments

• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, was killed in strikes targeting his compound.

• Mojtaba Khamenei has longstanding ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and previously maintained a low public profile.

• US President Donald Trump has said Khamenei would not be acceptable to the US as Iran’s next leader, claiming he wants to “be involved” in the choice.

ℹ️ Financial Times

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Mojtaba Khamenei (C), son of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2019. Photo: Saeid Zareian/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images.
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Iran appoints Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader
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