Iran's Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader. The appointment was made on Sunday, just over a week after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking religious scholar, has strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and his late father's office. His appointment is seen as a defiant choice, signalling continuity as the Islamic Republic faces its biggest crisis in 47 years.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, were among the figures who congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment. The IRGC leaders also expressed their support for the new supreme leader.
International Reactions
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said sent a congratulatory message to Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the official Oman News Agency. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also congratulated the new supreme leader, expressing confidence in his ability to manage the current sensitive stage.
US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as a "lightweight" and said the appointment was a "big mistake". Israel's Foreign Ministry described Mojtaba Khamenei as a "tyrant" like his father and threatened to kill any replacement for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged "unwavering support" to Iran, saying Russia would remain a reliable partner to the country. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Iran's decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei was based on its constitution and that China opposes interference in other countries' internal affairs.
Yemen's Houthi rebels welcomed the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, calling it a "new victory for the Islamic Revolution" and a "resounding blow to the enemies of the Islamic Republic and the enemies of the nation".
Source: Al Jazeera
