A change has occurred at the apex of Iran's power pyramid after 37 years. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, who was killed as a result of a US-Israeli attack, has been appointed to the position of the country's supreme religious leader. His appointment has sparked serious discussions both in the region and in Western circles.
Mojtaba Khamenei, named as the new supreme religious leader and said to have had years of behind-the-scenes influence within the political system, is considered one of Iran's most reclusive and enigmatic politicians. Interestingly, the voice of this person, appointed to the country's highest political-religious post, has been heard by the public only once, and he has almost never made an open political speech.
Following Mojtaba Khamenei's selection as leader, archival footage from the Iran-Iraq War years has been disseminated in Iran's conservative media and channels close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The videos show a young Mojtaba in khaki attire among fighters with the IRGC, calmly cleaning his weapon. These images are considered symbolic details indicating that the new leader's ties with the Revolutionary Guard, which played a significant role in his later political life, were formed very early on.
Little else is known about the past of Iran's new leader. The 57-year-old Mojtaba is the second son among Ali Khamenei's six children. He was born in Mashhad, Iran, 10 years before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. His youth coincided with one of Iran's most dramatic periods – the years of the Iran-Iraq War. He initially received his religious education from his father, and later continued his studies with high-ranking clerics in Qom, considered Iran's main religious center, where he also taught Islamic law for many years.
His name was first widely mentioned during the mass protests that followed the 2009 presidential elections. Reformist politicians at the time accused him of influencing the election results and the re-election of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and of playing a behind-the-scenes role within the government alongside the IRGC. Although these claims were rejected by official circles, many analysts believe that Mojtaba possesses unofficial influence within the Iranian political system.
His voice was heard only once, in a short video released in 2024. In that video, he announced the suspension of his religious education in Qom. On Monday, local media reported that he speaks fluent Arabic and English. A relative of Mojtaba stated that he played a leading role in shaping the Islamic Republic's technology policy.
The new leader has not appeared in public since the beginning of the war. State television reported that he is disabled, but did not disclose when this occurred or whether it is related to the current war. The Iranian public had believed for years that Mojtaba was being prepared for the country's highest office, and recent events have shown these beliefs to be justified. His appointment to the country's supreme position, shortly after many members of his family were killed, is interpreted as an indication that the Iranian government's policy will not change, but rather continue its hardline stance. Ali Vaez, Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, stated that there is no doubt about the IRGC's influence in Mojtaba's selection. "Can you imagine Mojtaba, whose father, mother, wife, sister, daughter, and niece were killed by the US and Israel, submitting his country to Trump?" the expert told the FT publication.
A number of analysts note that although the Iranian constitution requires the supreme leader to be a high-level religious legal scholar, Mojtaba Khamenei has no known academic activity in this field. Neither has he published any books on religious topics, nor does he have extensive public lectures. In the rare videos circulated online, his speeches are no longer than a few minutes.
According to observers, Mojtaba's first task will be to survive assassination threats from Israel and the US. Trump described Mojtaba as a "lightweight" and "unacceptable" figure, warning that whoever comes to power would not last long. The US president told "NBC News" in an interview on Monday: "I don't know if this is going to last. I think they made a mistake."
A relative of the new supreme leader told the FT that Mojtaba's priority will be to continue security policies in Iran. This policy includes the implementation of the ballistic missile program and the fostering of regional anti-Israeli groups.
According to the Iranian constitution, the authority to elect the supreme religious leader belongs to an 88-member clerical p called the Assembly of Experts. In recent years, the withdrawal or death of several figures among potential candidates is cited as one of the factors that brought Mojtaba Khamenei's name to the forefront. For example, former President Ebrahim Raisi, once considered a key candidate, died in a helicopter crash in 2024.
Mojtaba Khamenei's ascent to power has also reignited ideological debates within the Iranian political system. According to Shia political philosophy, power should not be inherited, and a religious leader should be chosen based on religious knowledge and influence. Even Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, did not allow his son to become his political successor. For this reason, some observers evaluate Mojtaba Khamenei's rise to power as Iran's move towards a hereditary system of rule, similar to a monarchy.
On the other hand, some circles close to the regime present him as a potential leader who can fight corruption and reform the state apparatus. Some politicians even compare him to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, claiming he could take certain modernization steps in the economic and social spheres. However, critics believe that Mojtaba Khamenei's political interventions to date have primarily aimed at strengthening the positions of hardline supporters.
The main challenges facing the new leader are quite severe. Iran is currently going through a complex period amidst an economic crisis, international sanctions, regional conflicts, and growing public discontent. Mass protests that occurred in the country in 1999, 2009, 2017, 2019, and 2022 in recent decades have shown how deep the dissatisfaction with the political system is within Iranian society.
According to analysts, if Mojtaba Khamenei comes to power, his main goal will be to ensure the continuity of the political system established by his father. This means that radical changes in Iran's foreign policy course and internal political model are not expected. Nevertheless, the new leader's first steps, and especially his first public appearances, will be one of the key indicators that will determine how his political line will be shaped.
Elnur AMIROV
