Tehran, Iran — March 4, 2026 — Amid the chaos following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, unconfirmed reports indicate that his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected as the Islamic Republic’s next Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts.
Opposition outlet Iran International reported Tuesday that the 88-member body of senior clerics elected the 56-year-old Mojtaba under heavy pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Informed sources told the London-based network the decision was made swiftly in the power vacuum created by Khamenei’s death on February 28.
The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials familiar with closed-door deliberations, reported that senior clerics held two virtual meetings on March 3 and identified Mojtaba as the clear front-runner. They were weighing an announcement as early as Wednesday morning (March 4), though some expressed reservations, fearing it could make him an immediate target for further U.S. or Israeli strikes.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, was killed at age 86 during joint U.S.-Israeli military operations on February 28. Iranian state media confirmed his death and declared 40 days of national mourning. A three-person interim council, including senior figures such as Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, has been managing day-to-day affairs under constitutional provisions.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the second son of the late leader, is a mid-ranking cleric (Hojjat al-Islam) who has never held a formal government post but is widely seen as one of the regime’s most powerful behind-the-scenes figures. He maintains close ties to the IRGC and the Basij paramilitary force and is believed to oversee a significant financial network. The United States sanctioned him in 2019 for his alleged role in suppressing protests.
Analysts note that his selection would mark a de facto hereditary succession — something the 1979 Islamic Revolution explicitly rejected — and signal the ascendancy of hard-line elements aligned with the IRGC.
Mojtaba Khamenei in recent years (left) and an earlier portrait (right). He has largely avoided the public eye but is viewed by many as his father’s preferred heir.
Uncertain Process and Immediate Backlash
The succession process has been complicated by ongoing conflict. An Israeli strike reportedly hit a building in Qom associated with the Assembly of Experts on March 3, though the chamber was empty. The IRGC has pushed for a rapid appointment, possibly bypassing standard procedures, according to multiple reports.
No official statement has yet emerged from Iranian state media or the Assembly confirming Mojtaba’s election. Wikipedia’s entry on the 2026 Supreme Leader election still lists the position as “TBD.”
Social media videos circulating Tuesday showed residents in parts of Tehran chanting “Death to Mojtaba” from their homes, reflecting public opposition to dynastic rule.
What It Means
If confirmed, Mojtaba’s elevation would consolidate power within the Khamenei family and the IRGC at a moment of extreme external pressure. Experts such as Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University have described it as a victory for the “hard-line Revolutionary Guard side of the regime.”
The situation remains fluid. An announcement could come within hours, or the process could stretch longer as Iran navigates war, internal rivalries, and the unprecedented nature of choosing a new Supreme Leader under fire.
This report is based on multiple sources including Iran International, The New York Times, and other international outlets as of early March 4, 2026. Official confirmation from Tehran is pending.
The Assembly of Experts convenes in its main hall in Qom. The body is constitutionally responsible for selecting — and if necessary removing — the Supreme Leader.
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