Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in air strikes attributed to the United States and Israel.
Truthlive News Media learnt from Al Jazeera that the appointment was confirmed on Sunday by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s highest authority.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is now charged with leading the Islamic Republic through what officials describe as the most serious crisis in its 47-year history.
According to the Assembly of Experts, his selection was guided by the late Supreme Leader’s advice that Iran’s top leader should be “hated by the enemy” rather than praised. A senior cleric involved in the decision said, “Even the Great Satan (US) has mentioned his name,” reflecting anticipated hardline policies.
Mojtaba Khamenei has never run for elected office, but has long been a central figure within the inner circle of Iran’s leadership, maintaining close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Analysts suggest his leadership is likely to continue Iran’s confrontational stance towards the US and Israel.
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem described Khamenei as his “father’s gatekeeper” and warned, “We are expecting a confrontational leader. We’re not expecting any moderation.”
The appointment comes as the US-Israel conflict in the Middle East enters its second week, following air strikes on Tehran that killed Ali Khamenei and targeted fuel depots and military infrastructure.
