Who is Mojtaba Khamenei - likely to be Iran's next Supreme leader?
November 18, 2024, at 10:50 AM IST
Iran's Assembly Of Experts To Decide On Succession
According to reports from Iran International, Iran's Supreme Leader, 85-year-old Ali Khamenei, is reportedly facing a serious health issue and is expected to resign soon. It is said that he intends to appoint his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor.
On September 26, 60 members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts gathered together at the request of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He directed them to quickly and privately come to a decision about who will succeed him, as outlined in reports.
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In a unanimous decision, the assembly chose Mojtaba, Khamenei's son, to take over as his successor. However, it appears that the members were not in agreement with either the choice or the method behind it. They allegedly faced pressure from Khamenei and his representatives, with some sources claiming that direct threats were made to influence their decision, according to News18.
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Here’s what we know about Mojtaba Khamenei, a potential candidate to take over the top position in Iran:
Mojtaba, the second son of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was born in 1969 in Mashhad. He pursued religious studies with guidance from his father and other prominent educators, ultimately becoming a cleric. He currently teaches theology at the Qom seminary.
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He has three kids with his partner, Zahra Haddad-Adel.
Impact Of The 2009 Elections
During the elections in Iran in 2005 and 2009, Mojtaba backed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and was reportedly involved in helping him secure victory in 2009 too.
Following Ahmadinejad's victory, demonstrations erupted in June 2009, during which Mojtaba was said to be at the forefront of those quelling the anti-government protests.
However, relations between Ahmadinejad and Mojtaba Khamenei deteriorated later on when Ahmadinejad accused him of misappropriating money from the national treasury.
The Future Supreme Leader
As discussions around his potential as the next Supreme Leader of Iran ongoing, following his father's legacy, he might encounter some resistance from the Assembly of Experts, although this group mainly serves a ceremonial purpose.
Mojtaba is rumored to have significant financial resources at his disposal. Nevertheless, The Guardian suggests that his political influence wasn't strong enough to guarantee him the role of the next Supreme Leader.
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