Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed Successor to Late Supreme Leader

Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, Iran, has been appointed as the successor to his father, the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died at age 86. The transition of power is managed by an 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects a new leader every eight years.

Mojtaba, who is 56 years old and one of six children of Ali Khamenei, has been a subject of speculation regarding his influence within Iranian politics. Despite not holding an official public position, he is considered to act behind the scenes, closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and involved in domestic and regional security matters.

His wealth is estimated at $100 million, derived from oil sales and investments in luxury properties. The new Supreme Leader's selection is critical, especially in light of tensions with Israel, which has warned that it will continue to pursue actions against whoever succeeds Ali Khamenei.