Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei? Son Of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Is Iran’s New Supreme Leader

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 07:20 IST

Iran fired its first missiles towards Israel on Monday following the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader.

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed as Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts. The appointment comes after Ali Khamenei was killed in joint strikes by Israel and the United States on February 28.

Mojtaba had long been viewed as a possible successor to his father. His rise comes as Iran faces an ongoing conflict in West Asia following the strikes that killed the late leader.

Iran fired its first missiles towards Israel on Monday following the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader, according to state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

IRIB said on its Telegram channel that Iran had launched the first wave of missiles towards what it described as “occupied territories" under the leadership of the new supreme leader. 

The broadcaster also shared an image of a projectile carrying the slogan “At Your Command, Sayyid Mojtaba".

Mojtaba’s early life and background

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei was born in 1969 in the Iranian city of Mashhad. He spent his early years during the period when his father was emerging as a leading cleric opposing the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution transformed Iran’s political system and strengthened the Khamenei family’s place within the new Islamic Republic.

Mojtaba later received his religious education under conservative scholars in the seminaries of Qom, the main centre of Shia theological learning in Iran.

Military links

During his youth, Mojtaba served in the Iran-Iraq War. The experience helped him build strong ties with Iran’s powerful security establishment, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

He is regarded as a mid-ranking cleric with close links to the IRGC and had often been seen as a potential successor to his father.

Reaction from the United States and Israel

Mojtaba’s appointment is expected to draw criticism from US President Donald Trump, who had earlier expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei’s death.

Criticising the possibility of Mojtaba succeeding his father, Trump said, “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," according to Axios.

Trump described Mojtaba as “unacceptable" and said he would prefer a leader who could bring “harmony and peace" to Iran, warning that continuing his father’s policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States.

Meanwhile, Israel had earlier warned that whoever was chosen as Iran’s new Supreme Leader could become a target.

According to the US Treasury Department, which imposed sanctions on him in 2019, Mojtaba represented Ali Khamenei in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position apart from working in his father’s office.

On the personal front, Mojtaba is married to Zahra Haddad-Adel, the daughter of a prominent conservative politician. The marriage strengthened his ties within Iran’s political elite.

The couple have children and have largely kept their personal life away from public scrutiny.

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