Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as a leading contender to become Iran’s next supreme leader following his father’s death in an airstrike on Saturday, according to Iranian sources.
A mid-ranking cleric with longstanding ties to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Mojtaba is widely seen within Iran’s establishment as a potential successor. He is believed to have strengthened his position over the years by cultivating close relationships within the Guards and expanding his influence within the clerical establishment.
Sources familiar with Iran’s leadership dynamics say Mojtaba operated as a key gatekeeper to his father, building significant behind-the-scenes authority despite never holding a formal government post. His strong backing within the IRGC, particularly among younger hardline members, is viewed as a major advantage in the succession process.
The Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the supreme leader, is reportedly close to reaching a decision. The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over key state matters, including foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme.
If chosen, Mojtaba would inherit leadership at a time of mounting economic pressure from U.S. sanctions and ongoing domestic tensions. Iran has witnessed repeated waves of protests in recent years, with demonstrators demanding greater social and political freedoms despite firm crackdowns by authorities.
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba grew up during the revolutionary period that brought the Islamic Republic to power. He served in the Iran-Iraq war as a young man and later pursued religious studies in Qom, the country’s centre of Shi’ite scholarship, attaining the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam.
Although he has rarely spoken publicly and has avoided formal political office, Mojtaba has frequently appeared at pro-government events. His role has long been controversial, with critics warning against any move toward dynastic succession in a country founded on opposition to monarchy.
The United States imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, alleging that he exercised influence on behalf of his father and worked closely with senior IRGC and Basij figures to advance Iran’s regional and domestic policies. He has also been a target of criticism during anti-government protests, particularly during unrest in 2022.
Questions remain over his clerical credentials, as the rank of Hojjatoleslam is below that of Ayatollah, the title held by his father and the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. However, his prospects strengthened after the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in 2024, removing another prominent potential successor from consideration.
Mojtaba has long been viewed as influential in Iran’s political landscape, including during the presidency of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom he reportedly supported during disputed elections in 2009 that led to widespread protests.
With the succession process underway, Mojtaba Khamenei now stands at the centre of a pivotal moment in Iran’s political future.
