Mojtaba Khamenei: Will He Be Iran's Leader After His Father's Death?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, 2026, sparked a wave of speculation regarding the leadership succession, with Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's second son, emerging as a leading candidate.

Mojtaba, known as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure, is now at the forefront of the power struggle, despite never holding an official government position.

His close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and his role in his father's office place him in a strategic position to determine Iran's future direction.

Iran's Assembly of Experts has reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader. The reports remain unconfirmed and are based on speculative media claims. Mojtaba is the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.(Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei,… pic.twitter.com/gnrQFaVfI6

— THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) March 4, 2026

The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, reportedly as a result of a joint US-Israeli attack, immediately triggered a complex succession process in Iran.

The Iranian constitution mandates the formation of an interim council in the event of the leader's death, resignation, or inability to carry out his duties, consisting of the president, the chief justice, and a cleric from the Guardian Council, was quickly formed, with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and senior cleric Alireza Arafi as its members.

Amid this leadership vacuum, Mojtaba Khamenei quickly emerged as the leading candidate to succeed his father.

Several media reports, including Iran International and The New York Times, quoted Iranian officials as stating that the Assembly of Experts had selected Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader, or at least that he was the leading candidate.

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei was born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, Iran, as the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He studied Islamic theology under the guidance of his father and prominent scholars such as Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

In 1999, he continued his studies in Qom, deepening his knowledge under the guidance of Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, and Mohammad Bagher Kharazi.

Although a mid-level cleric and not an ayatollah, Mojtaba has long been considered a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in the Supreme Leader's Office.

His influence is often compared to that of Ahmad Khomeini, son of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who acted as his father's gatekeeper and confidant.

His influence stems largely from his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.

Mojtaba served in the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War from 1987 to 1988, particularly in the "Habib Battalion," which helped him establish strong connections with security commanders.

He was also closely associated with the Basij militia and reportedly played a role in internal security operations, including the suppression of protests following the disputed 2009 elections.

Despite Mojtaba Khamenei's significant influence and IRGC support, the prospect of a father-to-son succession faces significant challenges.

This model of succession has the potential to spark anger among Iranians already critical of clerical rule, as well as among supporters of the system who may view it as un-Islamic and similar to the monarchy overthrown in 1979.

Some clerics also fear that Mojtaba's official appointment could make him a target for the US and Israel.

Another obstacle facing Mojtaba is his lack of the senior clerical rank typically expected for the role of Supreme Leader.

Furthermore, the likelihood of Mojtaba's succession diminished following the 2022 anti-government protests, which demonstrated public resistance to political dynasties.

Before his death in May 2024, former President Ebrahim Raisi was often considered the frontrunner.

Other candidates include Ali Larijani, Sadiq Larijani, Alireza Arafi (a member of the interim council), Mohammad-Mahdi Mirbagheri, Mohsen Araki, and Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini.