Title: Iran Names Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader After Father’s Assassination Date Published: 09 March 2026 Description: Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, just over a week after the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in joint United States–Israeli air strikes that have escalated tensions across the Middle East.The 56-year-old cleric was selected on Sunday by Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts to lead the Islamic Republic during what analysts describe as the most serious crisis in the country’s 47-year history.Soon after the announcement, key institutions including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the country’s armed forces pledged loyalty to the new leader.Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, called for national unity behind Mojtaba Khamenei as the country confronts the ongoing war triggered by the US-Israeli offensive.Similarly, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, described loyalty to the new supreme leader as both a “religious and national duty”.Although Mojtaba Khamenei has never contested any public office, he has long been regarded as a powerful figure within Iran’s ruling establishment, maintaining close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and playing a key role within his father’s inner circle.His emergence as supreme leader had been widely speculated in recent years, with analysts suggesting the appointment signals continuity of Iran’s hardline leadership at a time when the country faces mounting external pressure.Commenting on the development, Al Jazeera analyst Ali Hashem described Mojtaba Khamenei as his father’s “gatekeeper,” noting that his views on the United States and Israel closely mirror those of the late leader.Public policy scholar Rami Khouri of the American University of Beirut said the choice reflects defiance by Tehran against external pressure.According to him, Iran appears to be sending a message to its adversaries that the country’s political system remains intact despite the assassination of its long-time leader.A senior member of the Assembly of Experts, Heidari Alekasir, said Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection aligned with the late leader’s belief that Iran’s supreme leader should be feared by enemies rather than accepted by them.The appointment comes despite earlier remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had described Mojtaba Khamenei as an “unacceptable” candidate to lead Iran.Iranian authorities have rejected Washington’s attempts to influence the selection process, insisting that the choice of the country’s leader is solely an internal matter.Meanwhile, hostilities between Iran and Israel continued to intensify. Overnight strikes reportedly targeted several oil facilities in Tehran, leaving thick smoke hanging over the capital.A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Mohammad Naini, said Iran still possesses enough missile and drone supplies to sustain military operations for months, warning that more advanced weapons could be deployed in the coming days.Security analysts say the conflict, now entering its second week, shows no immediate signs of de-escalation and could last for several weeks as regional tensions continue to rise. Attached Images: 132e4fadd736c9ab1dcf7f5ef38aecfc831b983b67c856defe50ec0786b1ac39.jpg Attached Video: None