Iran’s Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, according to reports from state media on Sunday. The announcement follows the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
According to reports by Reuters, Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric with close connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had long been considered by some within Iran’s ruling establishment as a possible successor to his father.
Although Iran’s political system traditionally rejects hereditary succession, analysts say his strong backing from influential security figures and the lingering influence of his father’s office helped smooth the path for his appointment.
Ali Khamenei was reported to have died on February 28, 2026, at his office within his compound in Tehran. The strikes that led to his death were reportedly carried out jointly by the United States and Israel, targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure.
Iranian state television and U.S. officials both confirmed his death, after which authorities in Iran declared a 40-day national mourning period.
The strikes have heightened tensions across the Middle East, prompting Western allies, including the United Kingdom, to mobilize defensive operations amid concerns over potential retaliation from Tehran.
Ali Khamenei had led Iran since 1989 and played a key role in shaping the country’s ideological stance against Israel and Western powers. His leadership was also central to what Iran calls the “Axis of Resistance,” a network of allied groups operating across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine.
Throughout his rule, he repeatedly described Israel as illegitimate and maintained Iran’s support for Palestinian causes.
