Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s New Supreme Leader, Has Wielded Power Behind the Scenes For Years
The Bottom Line
Mojtaba Khamenei has been named Iran's new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father after Israeli airstrikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei has been named Iran's new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli airstrikes on February 28. Although he held no prior official position, Khamenei, 56, was known for wielding significant behind-the-scenes influence and reportedly orchestrated support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency in 2005. His selection follows U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration that Khamenei's appointment was "unacceptable" and occurred amidst ongoing U.S.-Israeli military actions targeting Iran. This succession, viewed by some as hereditary, solidifies a "revolutionary" ideology and presents a leader with a personal motivation for hostility towards the U.S. and Israel, according to analysts. The move also ensures the continued power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has pledged loyalty to the new leader.
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How money might have influenced Iran's decision to make Mojtaba Khamenei its new supreme leader
Trump trying to gauge whether new ayatollah is 'a leader he can work with'
Trump says he's "not happy" about Iran's new supreme leader
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