Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed to succeed his father as the head of the Islamic Republic. The Assembly of Experts, Iran's top clerical body, announced the decision shortly after midnight.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was chosen over other contenders, signaling a hereditary transition despite the revolution's initial rejection of dynastic rule. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died last week in Tehran during US-Israeli air strikes.
For years, Mojtaba Khamenei's influence has been the subject of speculation due to his discretion. He is considered close to conservatives and has ties to the Revolutionary Guards, dating back to his military service.
The US Treasury Department sanctioned Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019, stating he represented his father and worked to advance regional ambitions and domestic objectives. He has also been accused of a role in the violent crackdown following the 2009 presidential election protests.
An investigation by Bloomberg estimated Mojtaba Khamenei's wealth at over $100 million, allegedly amassed through oil sales channeled into international real estate investments via shell companies.
He studied theology in Qom and holds the rank of Hujjat al-Islam. His wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, also reportedly died in the recent air strikes.
Israel has issued a warning to Iran's new leadership, stating its pursuit of any successors. The Assembly of Experts, comprised of 88 elected members, oversees leadership transitions and last selected Khamenei in 1989.