Iran Appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as New Supreme Leader Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
In a significant and defiant move, Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as his successor. This development, confirmed by the regime’s 88-person Assembly of Experts, has been met with jubilation by hardliners within Iran, who are simultaneously vowing to intensify missile attacks on regional infrastructure.
Mojtaba Khamenei, previously not among the three senior clerics reportedly identified by his father as potential successors last year, secured the appointment on Sunday. His ascension is reportedly influenced by strong ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was allegedly made “under pressure from the Revolutionary Guards,” according to reports from Iranian media.
The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei’s potential impact on the volatile Middle East conflict was immediately apparent. In the hours following the confirmation of his leadership, videos emerged showing regime supporters chanting his name and calling for increased strikes. Large gatherings in Tehran were observed waving Iranian flags and exclaiming, “Allahu Akbar, Khamenei Rahbar,” a slogan translating to “God is great, Khamenei is the leader.”
Adding to the ominous atmosphere, Iran’s military issued a stern warning. They pledged to retaliate against any Israeli attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure by targeting oil sites across the region. This declaration came swiftly after Israel reportedly struck Iranian oil reserves the previous night. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s central military command, stated on state television that the governments of Islamic countries were expected to issue warnings to the “criminal America and the savage Zionist regime” regarding such actions. He further cautioned that failure to do so would result in “similar measures will be taken in the region, and if you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game.”
Renewed Aggression and Widespread Strikes
Shortly after the leadership change, Iran demonstrated its renewed aggressive stance by launching a fresh wave of infrastructure attacks across the Persian Gulf, impacting several countries in the region. Sirens blared across Israel overnight as Iran unleashed its latest barrage of missiles and drones, mere hours after Mojtaba Khamenei’s succession was finalised.
This escalation followed a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian oil refineries. These attacks reportedly caused a rift between the United States and Israel and contributed to a surge in oil prices, reaching a staggering $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022. The US was reportedly kept in the dark regarding the full extent of these operations, and officials expressed concerns that the new wave of Iranian strikes could turn public opinion against any potential intervention in Iran.
Devastating Strikes on Tehran and Regional Impact
On Sunday, Tehran, Iran’s capital, was engulfed in flames as Israel and the US launched a significant series of strikes in the early hours of the morning. The skies above the city turned a deep red, filled with acrid smoke, after multiple oil and fuel depots were detonated across the capital. Enormous fireballs illuminated the city’s skyline, and residents reported a persistent burning smell in the air. Both the US and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to fighting until the “eradication” of the Iranian regime.
The head of Iran’s Military Office, Abu al-Qassem Baba’iyan, was reportedly killed in the latest wave of attacks, according to a claim by the IDF on X. Baba’iyan also held the position of Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and is the latest prominent regime figure to be eliminated in Israeli strikes. An IDF statement on Sunday detailed that Baba’iyan was “responsible for coordinating between the Iranian terror regime’s various force employment organizations to execute operations and emergency operations.”
The conflict’s reach extended further into the region. In Saudi Arabia, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday night that it had intercepted a missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, along with two drones over Riyadh. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported the launch of additional Iranian missiles targeting their territories.
Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets, resulting in damage to one of its desalination plants. However, its electricity and water authority confirmed that water supplies remained operational. The ongoing war continued to spread across the Middle East, with reports of a ship being attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday. Oman has served as a crucial transit point for many British nationals seeking to leave Dubai amidst the escalating crisis. Kuwait was also reported to have been targeted by Iranian missiles just minutes before Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as Iran’s new leader.
Personnel at the US diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia were advised to depart the country on Sunday, amidst a recent surge in attacks as the war intensifies across the Middle East. The Saudi Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that the US embassy in Riyadh had been targeted by two drones, which caused a small fire. The embassy was subsequently closed, and American citizens were instructed to shelter in place.
A Controversial Succession
The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader comes just eight days after his father, Ali Khamenei, was reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes. This succession breaks with Iranian convention, which typically discourages father-son leadership transitions. Ali Khamenei is said to have expressed reservations about his son’s candidacy, fearing it would resemble the hereditary rule of the US-backed Shah monarchy, which was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Father-to-son succession is also viewed unfavourably within Iran’s Shiite Muslim clerical establishment.
However, the recent conflict has significantly depleted Iran’s top leadership ranks, and Mojtaba Khamenei possesses strong connections with the powerful IRGC and the Basij volunteer paramilitary force. Under Iran’s system of Islamic guardianship, the Supreme Leader must be a senior cleric with substantial political authority. While Mojtaba Khamenei has not held prominent political offices, he received religious education under conservative clerics in the Shiite holy city of Qom.
International Reactions and Concerns
US President Donald Trump has previously labelled Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable.” This week, he reiterated his sentiments, suggesting sarcastically that Iran might eventually seek his input on who should lead them. Trump asserted that he would personally select a new leader, deeming Khamenei’s son “unlikely” and “unacceptable.” He further intensified his threats, warning that any new Supreme Leader would not last long without US support.
Israel has also declared its intention to eliminate whoever assumes leadership, while Trump has demanded the final say. Speaking to ABC News, the US President stated, “He’s going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”
Mojtaba Khamenei: A Shadowy Figure with Significant Influence
Despite not being a high-ranking cleric and lacking official governmental roles, Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes. He served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq War and has been considered a potential successor to his father for years.
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, he grew up during his father’s leadership of the opposition to the Shah. Tragically, his wife, Zahra Adel, and his mother, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, were among the casualties of recent strikes. After completing his secondary education, he served briefly in the military during the Iran-Iraq War before pursuing religious studies in Qom in 1999. He has maintained a low profile throughout his career, in stark contrast to his father.
Though rarely photographed and without an official government position, Mojtaba Khamenei has long been perceived as a key influencer of his father. US diplomatic cables, as reported by the Associated Press, previously described him as “the power behind the robes” and a significant player within the regime.
Despite being subjected to US sanctions in 2019, Khamenei is reportedly overseeing an investment portfolio valued at over £100 million. This includes access to luxury properties in North London and bank accounts in the UK, Switzerland, the UAE, and Liechtenstein. Notably, he is said to own 11 properties on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, London, an exclusive street colloquially known as “Billionaires’ Row.”
