In the Name of the Father and the Son, for the Islamic Republic

Portrait of Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Iranian Supreme Leader By Oscar Jean-Etienne Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, is now at the heart of international political news. Discreet but influential for several years within Tehran's power circles, this conservative cleric has become one of the major figures in the succession to the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader since 1989. Trained in the religious seminaries of Qom, he belongs to the Shiite clergy and holds the title of hojjatoleslam, a religious rank lower than that of ayatollah. Despite this relatively modest status in the religious hierarchy, he has progressively established himself as an influential actor in the Iranian political system. For years, Mojtaba Khamenei exercised his power in the shadows. He played an important role within his father's office, often acting as an advisor, intermediary, and gatekeeper to the Supreme Leader. This position allowed him to develop a strong network among the country's political and security elites, particularly with the Revolutionary Guards, a pillar of the Iranian regime. At 56, he is considered one of the figures of the Iranian conservative camp. His influence in security and religious structures has fueled speculation for several years about a possible dynastic succession at the top of the state. Such a prospect remains controversial, however, in a political system born of the 1979 revolution, which was precisely built against hereditary monarchy. According to several international media outlets, the Assembly of Experts — the religious body responsible for designating the Supreme Leader — reportedly finally chose Mojtaba Khamenei in a unanimous vote announced on March 8, 2026. This decision consolidates the influence of the conservative current and could mark a new phase in the evolution of the Iranian regime. A figure long remaining in the shadows of power, Mojtaba Khamenei thus accedes to the highest political and religious office of the Islamic Republic. His leadership will be closely scrutinized, both within Iran and on the international stage, in a particularly tense regional and geopolitical context. While his ascent confirms the weight of conservative and security networks in the Iranian system, it also opens a period of uncertainty regarding the country's future direction. Oscar Jean-Etienne