Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Iran on March 9 named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, in a move that signals the continued dominance of hardliners in Tehran even as the country remains locked in an escalating conflict with the United States and Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric believed to wield significant influence within Iran’s security establishment and the vast economic networks built under his father’s leadership, had long been viewed as a leading contender for the position.
The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of clerics responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader after the death of Ali Khamenei. Confirming the decision, the assembly issued a statement shortly after midnight Tehran time.
“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said. The post of Supreme Leader gives Mojtaba Khamenei ultimate authority over all matters of state in the Islamic Republic, including control over the military, judiciary and key political institutions.
His appointment is expected to heighten tensions with Washington. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States should have a say in the leadership transition in Iran. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long,” Trump told ABC News. Israel had also issued warnings ahead of the announcement, indicating that whoever assumed the role could be targeted. Ali Khamenei, Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran on February 28 as hostilities erupted between Iran and the US-Israel alliance.
