N. Prabhakaran Dubai: Israeli media outlets have reported that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Khamenei, has been selected a...
N. Prabhakaran
Dubai: Israeli media outlets have reported that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Khamenei, has been selected as Iran's next Supreme Leader. According to the reports, Iran's 'Assembly of Experts' chose him as the successor.
This move follows the demise of Ayatollah Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28. The attack, which targeted Khamenei’s residence, also claimed the lives of his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. His wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, who was undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the attack, later passed away as well.
Until the next leader was selected, responsibilities were held by a three-member committee consisting of Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
Born in Mashhad in 1969, Mojtaba grew up within Iran's power centers following the Islamic Revolution. He studied at Alavi High School in Tehran and later at religious seminaries in Qom. However, he has not yet attained the high religious rank of 'Ayatollah.'
During the Iran-Iraq War, he served in the Habib Battalion, which helped him establish close ties with Iran's military and intelligence wings. Although he has held no official government posts, he is known as a key figure within his father's office. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on him.
According to a Bloomberg report, he is said to possess an investment network spread across the world and assets worth billions of dollars.
Mojtaba’s appointment may trigger significant debate, as the Iranian constitution generally rejects hereditary rule. Observers also note that his relatively lower religious standing could draw criticism from within Iran's clerical leadership.
Following the assassination of Khamenei, Iran launched missiles that reportedly landed in Gulf regions, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Bahrain. US President Donald Trump has warned that the time for peace talks has expired.
Yesterday, Israel reportedly bombed and destroyed the 'Assembly of Experts' building in Qom. It remains unclear whether any high-ranking clerics were present at the time.
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