{"id":1817662,"date":"2026-03-08T23:46:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T20:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1817662"},"modified":"2026-03-08T23:46:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T20:46:06","slug":"iran-elects-khameneis-son-as-supreme-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1817662","title":{"rendered":"Iran elects Khamenei’s son as supreme leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76271597_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A1cO<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Mojtaba Khamenei has largely kept a low profile and never held public officeImage: Iran state TV\/AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, Iran<\/a>‘s former supreme leader, who was\u00a0killed in an Israeli strike<\/a> on February 28. An 88-member Assembly of Experts named him the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader<\/a> on March 8, just over a week into a fierce war with the US and Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mojtaba is often described as enigmatic\u00a0and, at the same time, one of the most influential figures in Iran’s power corridors. He is known to have kept close links with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which\u00a0many believe calls the shots in the country.<\/p>\n

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Iran elects Khamenei’s son as supreme leader<\/h2>\n

Iran’s Assembly of Experts urged the Iranian people to stand behind the newly chosen leader and “keep unity.”<\/p>\n

However, Mojtaba is seen as a continuation\u00a0of his father’s legacy and hardline rule. US President Donald Trump<\/a> previously said appointing Khamenei’s son would be “unacceptable,” adding Iran’s new leader was bound not to “last long” should the appointment not be coordinated with Washington.<\/p>\n

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” US outlet Axios quoted Trump as saying.<\/p>\n

Israel<\/a>‘s defense minister last week said that whoever is chosen as Ali Khamenei’s successor would be a “target for elimination.”<\/p>\n

How Mojtaba Khamenei became a key power broker in Iran<\/h2>\n

While the 56-year-old Shiite cleric has largely kept a low profile and has never held\u00a0public office, he is known to have considerable clout within Iran’s complex power structure, particularly the IRGC.<\/p>\n

\n

Israel hits Iran oil sites for the first time<\/h2>\n

Government officials became aware of\u00a0Mojtaba’s growing influence in politics in the mid-1990s. He was seen surrounded by IRGC fighters and commanders who had returned from the Iran-Iraq war (1980\u20131988).<\/p>\n

But Mojtaba Khamenei came to the limelight during the 2005 presidential elections, which experts say he engineered. Iran’s new supreme leader allegedly helped a relatively unknown figure from the IRGC, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, win the vote.<\/p>\n

The 2005 election left former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani politically wounded, although he chose to remain silent. But Mehdi Karroubi, another presidential candidate in the election, wrote an open letter accusing Mojtaba of interfering in the election and facilitating Ahmadinejad’s rise to power.<\/p>\n

Four years later, Mojtaba faced the same accusation again. This time, Ahmadinejad’s reelection triggered mass protests across Iran. Some protesters, who opposed the idea of Mojtaba succeeding his father as supreme leader, even chanted “death to Mojtaba” during the demonstrations.<\/p>\n

During those turbulent months, numerous reports emerged about Mojtaba’s increasing role in suppressing the so-called “green movement.”<\/p>\n

Mojtaba’s financial assets<\/h2>\n

There have also been reports about Mojtaba’s alleged financial corruption. According to government insiders, at least 60%\u00a0of Iran’s economy is operated through holding companies and institutions under Ali Khamenei’s control. These range from the Mostazafan Foundation to the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee\u00a0and the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, to Astan Quds Razavi. Mojtaba, allegedly, oversaw the finances.<\/p>\n

\n

Iran war exposes global dependence on Middle East energy<\/h2>\n

According to a 2026 Bloomberg investigation, Mojtaba’s holdings include high-value real estate in London and Dubai, as well as interests linked to shipping, banking, and hospitality assets in Europe. According to the investigation, the assets were mostly not held in his name but structured through intermediaries and layered corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

Mojtaba’s childhood and education<\/h2>\n

State media portray Mojtaba as a man who lives a simple life. After completing his secondary education at Alavi School, Mojtaba Khamenei entered the Qom seminary, where he attended the lectures of influential clerics.<\/p>\n

During his childhood, his father, Ali Khamenei, emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He spent seven years in Sardasht and Mahabad cities in Iran’s northwest and\u00a0received his early education. He joined the IRGC in 1987 after finishing high school.<\/p>\n

In 1999, Mojtaba pursued Islamic studies in Qom city to become a cleric.<\/p>\n

Sources close to the IRGC and Iran’s security institutions have published reports and recollections about Mojtaba’s participation in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

According to these accounts, Mojtaba was about 17 when he went to the war front and joined a battalion. Several members of this battalion later became some of the most important intelligence and security figures in the Islamic Republic and often gathered around Mojtaba.<\/p>\n

Not many people in Iran, including his father Ali Khamenei, thought Mojtaba would someday become the country’s supreme leader.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Shamil Shams<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, Iran<\/a>‘s former supreme leader, who was\u00a0killed in an Israeli strike<\/a> on February 28. An 88-member Assembly of Experts named him the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader<\/a> on March 8, just over a week into a fierce war with the US and Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mojtaba is often described as enigmatic\u00a0and, at the same time, one of the most influential figures in Iran’s power corridors. He is known to have kept close links with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which\u00a0many believe calls the shots in the country.<\/p>\n

\n

Iran elects Khamenei’s son as supreme leader<\/h2>\n

Iran’s Assembly of Experts urged the Iranian people to stand behind the newly chosen leader and “keep unity.”<\/p>\n

However, Mojtaba is seen as a continuation\u00a0of his father’s legacy and hardline rule. US President Donald Trump<\/a> previously said appointing Khamenei’s son would be “unacceptable,” adding Iran’s new leader was bound not to “last long” should the appointment not be coordinated with Washington.<\/p>\n

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” US outlet Axios quoted Trump as saying.<\/p>\n

Israel<\/a>‘s defense minister last week said that whoever is chosen as Ali Khamenei’s successor would be a “target for elimination.”<\/p>\n

How Mojtaba Khamenei became a key power broker in Iran<\/h2>\n

While the 56-year-old Shiite cleric has largely kept a low profile and has never held\u00a0public office, he is known to have considerable clout within Iran’s complex power structure, particularly the IRGC.<\/p>\n

\n

Israel hits Iran oil sites for the first time<\/h2>\n

Government officials became aware of\u00a0Mojtaba’s growing influence in politics in the mid-1990s. He was seen surrounded by IRGC fighters and commanders who had returned from the Iran-Iraq war (1980\u20131988).<\/p>\n

But Mojtaba Khamenei came to the limelight during the 2005 presidential elections, which experts say he engineered. Iran’s new supreme leader allegedly helped a relatively unknown figure from the IRGC, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, win the vote.<\/p>\n

The 2005 election left former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani politically wounded, although he chose to remain silent. But Mehdi Karroubi, another presidential candidate in the election, wrote an open letter accusing Mojtaba of interfering in the election and facilitating Ahmadinejad’s rise to power.<\/p>\n

Four years later, Mojtaba faced the same accusation again. This time, Ahmadinejad’s reelection triggered mass protests across Iran. Some protesters, who opposed the idea of Mojtaba succeeding his father as supreme leader, even chanted “death to Mojtaba” during the demonstrations.<\/p>\n

During those turbulent months, numerous reports emerged about Mojtaba’s increasing role in suppressing the so-called “green movement.”<\/p>\n

Mojtaba’s financial assets<\/h2>\n

There have also been reports about Mojtaba’s alleged financial corruption. According to government insiders, at least 60%\u00a0of Iran’s economy is operated through holding companies and institutions under Ali Khamenei’s control. These range from the Mostazafan Foundation to the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee\u00a0and the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, to Astan Quds Razavi. Mojtaba, allegedly, oversaw the finances.<\/p>\n

\n

Iran war exposes global dependence on Middle East energy<\/h2>\n

According to a 2026 Bloomberg investigation, Mojtaba’s holdings include high-value real estate in London and Dubai, as well as interests linked to shipping, banking, and hospitality assets in Europe. According to the investigation, the assets were mostly not held in his name but structured through intermediaries and layered corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

Mojtaba’s childhood and education<\/h2>\n

State media portray Mojtaba as a man who lives a simple life. After completing his secondary education at Alavi School, Mojtaba Khamenei entered the Qom seminary, where he attended the lectures of influential clerics.<\/p>\n

During his childhood, his father, Ali Khamenei, emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He spent seven years in Sardasht and Mahabad cities in Iran’s northwest and\u00a0received his early education. He joined the IRGC in 1987 after finishing high school.<\/p>\n

In 1999, Mojtaba pursued Islamic studies in Qom city to become a cleric.<\/p>\n

Sources close to the IRGC and Iran’s security institutions have published reports and recollections about Mojtaba’s participation in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

According to these accounts, Mojtaba was about 17 when he went to the war front and joined a battalion. Several members of this battalion later became some of the most important intelligence and security figures in the Islamic Republic and often gathered around Mojtaba.<\/p>\n

Not many people in Iran, including his father Ali Khamenei, thought Mojtaba would someday become the country’s supreme leader.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Shamil Shams<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, Iran<\/a>‘s former supreme leader, who was\u00a0killed in an Israeli strike<\/a> on February 28. An 88-member Assembly of Experts named him the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader<\/a> on March 8, just over a week into a fierce war with the US and Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mojtaba is often described as enigmatic\u00a0and, at the same time, one of the most influential figures in Iran’s power corridors. He is known to have kept close links with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which\u00a0many believe calls the shots in the country.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran’s Assembly of Experts urged the Iranian people to stand behind the newly chosen leader and “keep unity.”<\/p>\n

However, Mojtaba is seen as a continuation\u00a0of his father’s legacy and hardline rule. US President Donald Trump<\/a> previously said appointing Khamenei’s son would be “unacceptable,” adding Iran’s new leader was bound not to “last long” should the appointment not be coordinated with Washington.<\/p>\n

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” US outlet Axios quoted Trump as saying.<\/p>\n

Israel<\/a>‘s defense minister last week said that whoever is chosen as Ali Khamenei’s successor would be a “target for elimination.”<\/p>\n

While the 56-year-old Shiite cleric has largely kept a low profile and has never held\u00a0public office, he is known to have considerable clout within Iran’s complex power structure, particularly the IRGC.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Government officials became aware of\u00a0Mojtaba’s growing influence in politics in the mid-1990s. He was seen surrounded by IRGC fighters and commanders who had returned from the Iran-Iraq war (1980\u20131988).<\/p>\n

But Mojtaba Khamenei came to the limelight during the 2005 presidential elections, which experts say he engineered. Iran’s new supreme leader allegedly helped a relatively unknown figure from the IRGC, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, win the vote.<\/p>\n

The 2005 election left former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani politically wounded, although he chose to remain silent. But Mehdi Karroubi, another presidential candidate in the election, wrote an open letter accusing Mojtaba of interfering in the election and facilitating Ahmadinejad’s rise to power.<\/p>\n

Four years later, Mojtaba faced the same accusation again. This time, Ahmadinejad’s reelection triggered mass protests across Iran. Some protesters, who opposed the idea of Mojtaba succeeding his father as supreme leader, even chanted “death to Mojtaba” during the demonstrations.<\/p>\n

During those turbulent months, numerous reports emerged about Mojtaba’s increasing role in suppressing the so-called “green movement.”<\/p>\n

There have also been reports about Mojtaba’s alleged financial corruption. According to government insiders, at least 60%\u00a0of Iran’s economy is operated through holding companies and institutions under Ali Khamenei’s control. These range from the Mostazafan Foundation to the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee\u00a0and the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, to Astan Quds Razavi. Mojtaba, allegedly, oversaw the finances.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

According to a 2026 Bloomberg investigation, Mojtaba’s holdings include high-value real estate in London and Dubai, as well as interests linked to shipping, banking, and hospitality assets in Europe. According to the investigation, the assets were mostly not held in his name but structured through intermediaries and layered corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

State media portray Mojtaba as a man who lives a simple life. After completing his secondary education at Alavi School, Mojtaba Khamenei entered the Qom seminary, where he attended the lectures of influential clerics.<\/p>\n

During his childhood, his father, Ali Khamenei, emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He spent seven years in Sardasht and Mahabad cities in Iran’s northwest and\u00a0received his early education. He joined the IRGC in 1987 after finishing high school.<\/p>\n

In 1999, Mojtaba pursued Islamic studies in Qom city to become a cleric.<\/p>\n

Sources close to the IRGC and Iran’s security institutions have published reports and recollections about Mojtaba’s participation in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.<\/p>\n

According to these accounts, Mojtaba was about 17 when he went to the war front and joined a battalion. Several members of this battalion later became some of the most important intelligence and security figures in the Islamic Republic and often gathered around Mojtaba.<\/p>\n

Not many people in Iran, including his father Ali Khamenei, thought Mojtaba would someday become the country’s supreme leader.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Shamil Shams<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-mojtaba-khamenei-ali-khamenei-us-israel-irgc\/a-76271184″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76271597_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A1cO Mojtaba Khamenei has largely kept a low profile and never held public officeImage: Iran state TV\/AP Photo\/picture alliance Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, Iran‘s former supreme leader, who was\u00a0killed in an Israeli strike on February 28. An 88-member Assembly of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1817662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1817662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817662\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1817662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1817662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1817662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}