Mojtaba Khamenei Reportedly Chosen as Iran’s New Supreme Leader; Trump Expresses Displeasure

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has reportedly selected Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader. The announcement came on the tenth day of the ongoing conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reacted negatively to the decision. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said that Trump told him in a conversation, “I’m not happy about it.”

Trump had previously warned that if Iran’s new leader turns out to be as problematic as the previous leadership, the country’s situation could worsen further. He also said he would not accept a leader who could remain in power for long without U.S. approval.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has never held an official government position and rarely appears in public. He is often described as a quiet and enigmatic figure.

However, he has long played an influential role within his father’s office and is believed to have close ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Many observers have referred to him as a powerful figure operating behind the scenes.

Professor Mehmet Ozalp noted that Mojtaba largely worked behind the scenes and had influence among members of the Revolutionary Guard and influential clerics. His access to the media has been extremely limited.

Following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024, Mojtaba Khamenei had increasingly been viewed by some analysts as a potential successor to Iran’s supreme leadership.