Is Mojtaba Khamenei still alive? Conflicting reports on Iran’s next supreme leader

Like his father, Mojtaba is a core member of the ultra-conservative camp, known for supporting the brutal suppression of internal dissent and maintaining a hawkish stance toward the West.

By Gila Isaacson, JFeed

Amidst the chaos of “Operation Roaring Lion,” the question of who will lead the Islamic Republic remains unanswered.

While rumors circulated earlier this week that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had already been selected as his father’s successor in a clandestine meeting, new official statements from Iran suggest a power struggle or a delay in the transition.

The Assembly of Experts Breaks Silence

On Saturday, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts – the constitutional body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader – announced that a formal meeting to select a successor will only take place within the next 24 hours.

This statement directly contradicts widespread reports suggesting a “done deal” behind closed doors.

Analysts suggest the delay or the public announcement may be a tactical move to project stability or a sign of internal friction within the regime’s crumbling hierarchy.

The Status of Mojtaba Khamenei

Speculation regarding the fate of Mojtaba Khamenei has intensified.

According to prominent political analyst Amit Segal, Israeli intelligence assessments currently suggest that Mojtaba is still alive.

His survival remained a point of doubt following the opening strike of the war, which successfully targeted his father and reportedly killed Mojtaba’s own wife and son.

Since the strike, Mojtaba has not appeared in public or issued any recorded statements, leading to theories that:

1. He is being kept in deep hiding to avoid becoming the next target for assassination.

2. He is consolidating power within the IRGC to ensure his appointment.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

The 55-year-old second son of Ali Khamenei has long been viewed as a “gatekeeper” to the Supreme Leadership.

Like his father, Mojtaba is a core member of the ultra-conservative camp, known for supporting the brutal suppression of internal dissent and maintaining a hawkish stance toward the West.

In 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on him, noting that despite having no official government title, he “represented” the Supreme Leader in high-level affairs.

The elimination of Ali Khamenei alongside dozens of top IRGC commanders in the opening salvo has left the regime in its most vulnerable state since 1979.

Whether the Assembly of Experts confirms Mojtaba or opts for a different figurehead, the new leader will inherit a nation under a massive joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive and a population reportedly “afraid of their own shadows”.