Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been elected as Iran’s next Supreme Leader, according to Israeli media reports.
The reports state that Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as successor following his father’s death in joint US–Israeli airstrikes on February 28.
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There has been no independent confirmation from Iranian state authorities at the time of writing.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran for 36 years. He was killed in what US and Israeli officials described as coordinated strikes targeting senior leadership compounds in Tehran.
Reports said Khamenei was in his “compound” at the time of the strike. Iranian media also stated that his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were killed. His wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, reportedly later succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad, with a “large farewell ceremony” planned in Tehran. The burial date has not yet been announced.
Interim Council Handed Over Power
Before Mojtaba Khamenei’s reported election, a three-member interim Leadership Council had assumed the Supreme Leader’s responsibilities under Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution.
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The council comprised:
- Ayatollah Alireza Arafi
- Masoud Pezeshkian
- Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei
With the Assembly of Experts reportedly naming Mojtaba Khamenei, the interim arrangement would now formally conclude once procedures are completed.
Operation ‘Epic Fury’ and Escalation
The joint US–Israel operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, followed stalled nuclear negotiations and claims that Tehran had resumed nuclear activity.
The strikes targeted multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran. Reports suggested over 700 people were killed, though casualty figures remain subject to independent verification.
In response, Iran launched missile attacks across the Gulf. Several projectiles reportedly struck regions including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain.
US President Donald Trump warned that it was “too late” for Iran to seek talks to “escape a war.”
As the conflict entered its fourth day, a drone attack caused a fire at the US consulate in Dubai. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the strike and said all staff were safe.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces expanded operations in Lebanon against the Tehran-backed Hezbollah, further widening the conflict theatre.
What Mojtaba Khamenei’s Appointment Means
If confirmed by Tehran, Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation would mark a historic moment in Iran’s political system, transferring ultimate authority within the same family for the first time since the Islamic Republic’s founding.
The Supreme Leader holds sweeping powers over Iran’s military, judiciary, state media and key strategic decisions. The coming days will likely determine how firmly Mojtaba consolidates authority amid internal uncertainty and external military pressure.
