Tehran – In a defiant move amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Iran’s 88-member Assembly of Experts announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader.
The announcement on Sunday, 8 March 2026, saw the 56-year-old cleric succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a targeted strike on 28 February 2026.
Mojtaba Khamenei, largely unknown to the public, steps into the role during the intensifying 2026 Iran war, signaling continuity in the Islamic Republic’s hardline stance.
The Assembly of Experts, Iran’s clerical body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader, chose Mojtaba after a “decisive vote,” state television reported, rejecting international interference.
The move directly snubs U.S. President Donald Trump, who had demanded involvement in the selection just days earlier, calling Mojtaba “unacceptable” and a “lightweight” unfit for leadership.
Trump warned that any leader without his approval “would not last long” and hinted at further regime change efforts, comparing it to U.S. actions in Venezuela.
After the announcement of the new leader, there was no regime change, no protests, and no let-up in Iran’s retaliation with missile and drone launches being fired at neighbours and Israel.
Earlier this month, Israel issued a chilling warning, stating its intentions to assassinate any new Iranian leader.
Disclaimer: This story was generated by the artificial intelligence tool Grok on X. It may contain inaccuracies.
