By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Iran has announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement by the Assembly of Experts and broadcast on state television, confirming that Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed his father following his death.
The statement, read by a television presenter, said the Assembly continued its work despite the difficult wartime situation and attacks targeting its facilities.
“Despite the acute wartime conditions and the direct threats of the enemies against this popular institution, and despite the bombing of the offices of the Secretariat of the Assembly of Experts, which resulted in the martyrdom of several staff members and members of its security team, did not pause even for a moment in the process of selecting and introducing the leadership of the Islamic system.
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Khamenei is the leader,” the presenter declared.
Earlier, Iran International had reported that Mojtaba Khamenei had emerged as the country’s new supreme leader, citing a source familiar with the development.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, takes over from his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during the first strike of Operation Epic Fury carried out by United States and Israeli forces.
The late Khamenei had ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades after assuming office in 1989. His son’s appointment is widely seen as extending the influence of the Khamenei family in Iran’s leadership.
Last week, Israeli forces reportedly bombed a group of Iranian officials coordinating the process of selecting a successor to the late leader.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier rejected the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s next supreme leader, insisting that Washington must be involved in the process of choosing a new leader for the country.
Trump warned that any Iranian supreme leader selected without U.S. approval would not remain in power for long.
