How was Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Supreme Leader?
Posted on Mar 09, 2026 / World
The official process that selected Mojtaba Khamenei involved Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a group of 88 clerics tasked with picking a new Supreme Leader when the position is vacant. After his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in late February 2026 during a conflict involving U.S. and Israeli strikes, the Assembly met and elected Mojtaba to lead the country. They reportedly did so with broad backing from top government institutions, including the military, parliament and judiciary. This wasn’t a public election where ordinary citizens vote — it’s a secretive clerical process meant to ensure continuity of Iran’s theocratic system. Iran’s elite leaders and clerical bodies quickly declared loyalty to him, and state media highlighted support from the Revolutionary Guards right after the decision. The quick selection was aimed at stabilizing leadership in a time of regional crises and ongoing war. But some critics argue that the process looked more like a dynastic transfer than a merit‑based choice.
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