Israeli media reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as his father’s successor and that the Assembly of Experts was expected to make a formal announcement shortly. The reports, carried by outlets including Ynet, have not been independently confirmed by Iranian state media.
The New York Times earlier identified the 56-year-old Mojtaba as the leading candidate. Described as the second-eldest son of the late Supreme Leader, he is reported to have played a major role managing his father’s office and to maintain close ties with senior figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the Quds Force.
Sources cited by the NYT and Israeli coverage said the Assembly of Experts voted under heavy IRGC pressure. Those outlets portray Mojtaba as more hard-line than his father and link him to past crackdowns on protesters.
In November 2019 the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he acted as a representative of the Supreme Leader despite never holding elected or formal government office. The Treasury alleged that Ali Khamenei delegated aspects of his leadership to Mojtaba, who worked closely with IRGC-Quds Force commanders and the Basij in advancing Iran’s regional agenda and suppressing domestic dissent. Other reports have connected him to luxury properties in London and bank accounts in the UK, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper warned that U.S. and partner strike operations would continue until their objectives are achieved, saying military efforts remain underway with determination and professionalism.
The developments come amid intensified regional fighting that entered a fourth day after U.S. and Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior Iranian figures. Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American bases and Israeli assets across the region, further escalating tensions.
