Assembly of Experts Said to Select Ayatollah Khamenei’s Son Amid Reported Pressure from Revolutionary Guard.
From “gatekeeper” to supreme leader? Iran may be entering its most controversial transition yet.
Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts has reportedly selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the next leader of the Islamic Republic, according to Iran International, which cited sources familiar with the decision. The reported vote was said to have taken place under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Senior Israeli officials said they expect a formal announcement in the coming hours. Iranian state media, however, had not confirmed the decision at the time of reporting.
The development follows the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the outset of Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion. Iranian media reported earlier Tuesday that members of the 88-member Assembly were not inside the Qom building targeted by Israeli strikes and would soon announce a successor.
If confirmed, the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei would mark one of the most consequential and controversial leadership transitions since the 1979 revolution.
A Contested Succession
Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader’s second son, is widely viewed as aligned with Iran’s hardline conservative establishment. A mid-ranking cleric who teaches Shiite theology in Qom, he has never held formal government office but is believed to have exercised considerable influence behind the scenes, particularly through close ties with the IRGC.
Outside analysts have long described him as a key “gatekeeper” within his father’s inner circle. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on him, arguing that he effectively represented the authority of the supreme leader despite lacking an official title.
Yet his candidacy has historically been controversial. Critics have warned that elevating him could be perceived as a hereditary transfer of power — an uncomfortable echo of the monarchy overthrown in 1979. Others have questioned whether he possesses the senior clerical standing traditionally expected for the role.
The Constitutional Framework
Under Iran’s constitution, the supreme leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts, whose members are elected but vetted by the Guardian Council — itself appointed directly or indirectly by the supreme leader. The position wields ultimate authority over the armed forces, judiciary and key state institutions.
If Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection is confirmed, it would signal not only continuity in ideological direction but also the decisive influence of the security establishment at a moment of acute national crisis.
Whether this transition consolidates power — or deepens internal tensions — may soon become clear.
