Iran has appointed hardline cleric Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in recent attacks linked to the ongoing regional conflict. 

The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, the council responsible for selecting Iran’s Supreme Leader. The group voted to appoint Mojtaba as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, marking the first time the position has effectively passed from father to son since the Iranian Revolution. 

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is known for his close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long been considered an influential figure within Iran’s political establishment despite never holding elected office. 

His appointment comes during intense regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, raising concerns among international observers about the direction of Iran’s leadership and the potential continuation of hardline policies. 

Analysts say the move signals that conservative factions remain firmly in control of Iran’s leadership during one of the most volatile periods in the country’s modern history.