Published: Mar 04, 2026, 15:30 IST | Updated: Mar 04, 2026, 15:30 IST
Following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli strike, Iran’s Assembly of Experts - the clerical body constitutionally responsible for selecting the next supreme leader - has reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, as his successor amid intense political pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and ongoing war. Mojtaba was a long‑time influential figure behind the scenes but has never held high public office, making his elevation controversial and raising questions about hereditary succession and internal legitimacy within the Islamic Republic.