Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader after Ali Khamenei died in a February 28 airstrike, signaling continued dominance of hardline leadership.

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• Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader following his father’s death in a recent airstrike.

• The 56 year old cleric has long maintained strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, giving him significant influence across Iran’s political, security and military structures.

• Mojtaba Khamenei gained influence behind the scenes while serving as a close adviser and gatekeeper to his father despite never holding a formal government position.

• Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba served in the Iran Iraq war and later pursued religious education in Qom, the center of Shia theological studies.

• Mojtaba holds the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam, a position lower than Ayatollah, which has led some critics to question his eligibility for supreme leadership.

• The United States imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, alleging he coordinated closely with the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia on regional and domestic policies.

• His influence reportedly expanded during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency, and he supported Ahmadinejad during the disputed 2009 election and subsequent political unrest.

• Analysts believe Mojtaba’s appointment signals continued control of conservative factions over Iran’s political and religious leadership structure.