Iran’s powerful clerical body has appointed a new supreme leader following a dramatic shift in the country’s leadership.Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as Iran’s new supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in recent U.S. and Israeli attacks, according to Iranian state media.The 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, voted to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei to the country’s highest political and religious position.

In an official statement issued shortly after midnight in Tehran, the assembly confirmed the decision.The statement said Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei had been chosen as the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, following Ruhollah Khomeini and his father, Ali Khamenei.The role of supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran’s political system. The position grants control over key institutions, including the military, judiciary, and major state policies within the Iran.With his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei will now have the final say on major national decisions. 

Mojtaba Khamenei has long been viewed by political observers as a potential successor to his father. The cleric has maintained close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), one of Iran’s most influential military and political institutions.Reports suggest that some circles within Iran’s ruling elite had already considered him a leading candidate for the leadership. His candidacy was also believed to have support from networks associated with his father’s office and other influential groups within the establishment.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)