Iran: Just a week without the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as the country's new Supreme Leader. The utterance came late on Monday night, when the Experts Assembly released an official statement. The country is currently stuck in the middle of a war—attacks by America and Israel protract from outside, and the political undercurrent inside is tense. In such a time, all the responsibility has now fallen on the shoulders of Mojtaba.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Mojtaba was born on 8 September 1969 in Mashhad city. Mashhad is a big religious municipality of Iran. He is the second son of Ali Khamenei's six children. His father ran the country as the Supreme Leader for increasingly than 30 years. Mojtaba unchangingly remained overdue the scenes—not seen in many public events nor in the media much. For this reason, for years people used to say that the real power was in their hands, but it was never visible from the front.
What is his educational and religious background?
He studied Islamic theology in the municipality of Qom. Qom is the largest part-way of study of Shia religion. Without completing his studies, he himself started giving religious education there. He received the status of 'Hujjat al-Islam', which is one step unelevated Ayatollah. His family are Syed—that is, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad – so he is once well respected in religious circles.
How deep is the connection to the security system?
His name has been linked to the IRGC – Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—for many years. It is said that without the Iran-Iraq war, he worked in a gainsay unit. With time he built good relations with inobtrusive leaders and security people. He did not hold any major government post, but he had influence plane without the post.
Why did America impose sanctions?
In 2019, America had vetoed Mojtaba. Washington's recrimination was that he plays an important role in delivering forward his father's policies and runs domestic and external policies in collaboration with security agencies.
Some opposition groups in Iran so-called his role in suppressing the protests that followed the 2009 presidential election, but no official vestige overly emerged.
Has family rule now started in Iran?
This is the first time since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that the post of Supreme Leader has gone to the same family. First came Khamenei from Khomeini – both were different. Now with the inrush of Mojtaba, some people are saying that it has wilt like a hereditary system.
Now it remains to be seen what Mojtaba does in this difficult time. War is going on, attacks are going on, Trump had once said that it is "unacceptable" if his son becomes the leader. Israel is moreover saying that the new leader will moreover be a target. Overall, Mojtaba now holds the most powerful post in Iran, but the challenges are huge.
