Iran is preparing to choose a new supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. As the country waits for the announcement, attention has increasingly focused on one possible successor — Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the late leader’s son.

Mojtaba has spent most of his life away from the public spotlight. He has never held elected office. Mojtaba rarely appears in public. He also does not hold a formal government title. Despite this, many analysts say he has built strong influence within Iran’s political and security circles.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts Selects New Leader

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has the authority to choose the country’s supreme leader. On Sunday, members confirmed that they had already made their decision.

However, they did not reveal the name immediately. Officials said they would announce it soon through state media.

Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly of Experts, confirmed the decision. “The vote to appoint the leader has taken place and the leader has been chosen,” he told Iran’s Mehr news agency. He added that the secretariat would reveal the name later.

Other members also confirmed that a decision had been made. One of them hinted that the late leader’s son could become the next supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei Seen As Leading Candidate

Mojtaba Khamenei remains one of the strongest candidates for the position. He has worked quietly inside his father’s office for years.

During this time, he built influence within Iran’s security system. He also developed strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the country’s powerful military force.

Mojtaba was born in 1969 in Mashhad, a major religious city in Iran. Although he never held political office, his father served as Iran’s third president from 1981 to 1989 before becoming supreme leader.

Religiously, Mojtaba is a mid-ranking cleric. He teaches theology at the Qom seminary, one of the most important religious institutions in Iran. If he becomes supreme leader, the Assembly of Experts would likely raise his religious rank to ayatollah.

Iran expert Mehran Kamrava from Georgetown University said the move would help maintain stability. “The deep state in the Islamic Republic wants continuity,” Kamrava said. “If Mojtaba indeed is chosen as his father's successor, it would indicate more than anything else that the Islamic Republic is trying to ensure continuity.”

Kamrava added that many in Iran believe Mojtaba already holds strong influence among commanders of the Revolutionary Guards.

Concerns Over Dynastic Leadership

Some political and religious groups oppose Mojtaba’s possible rise. They argue that leadership should not pass from father to son.

Critics say such a move would resemble a dynasty. They believe this idea contradicts the principles of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

That revolution removed the monarchy led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Because of this history, some leaders strongly oppose any sign of hereditary rule.

Other Names In The Race

Several other figures have appeared as possible candidates. These include Asghar Hijazi, Ali Larijani, Sadiq Larijani, Alireza Arafi, Mohammad-Mahdi Mirbagheri, and Mohsen Araki.

Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, has also been mentioned.

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has received particular attention. The 67-year-old cleric holds strong influence within Iran’s religious establishment.

Ali Khamenei appointed him to the Guardian Council in 2019. Later, he also joined the Assembly of Experts. He now serves on the three-member interim leadership council guiding the country during the transition.

Another candidate is Ayatollah Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri. He is known for his hardline views and is also a member of the Assembly of Experts.

Mirbagheri once worked closely with the late Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi. Yazdi wrote that Iran should not deny itself the right to produce “special weapons”, a phrase widely seen as a reference to nuclear arms.

Mirbagheri recently said a leadership decision was almost complete but added that “some obstacles” still needed to be resolved.

Hints Suggest Mojtaba Could Be The Choice

Another Assembly of Experts member, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, gave a strong hint about the possible successor.

He said the chosen leader followed Khamenei’s advice that the supreme leader should be someone “hated by the enemy”.

He then added, “Even the ‌Great Satan [the US] has mentioned his name,” referring to US President Donald Trump’s statement calling Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei an “unacceptable” option.

Many analysts believe this comment pointed directly to Mojtaba.

Analysts Expect Political Bargaining

Experts believe the final decision may involve intense negotiations among Iran’s powerful institutions.

Amin Saikal, professor emeritus at the University of Western Australia, said the Assembly of Experts might even choose a compromise candidate.

“There is going to be a great deal of horse-trading,” he said. “Whoever emerges might be a compromise.”

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Mojtaba may have been injured. These reports remain unconfirmed.

Leadership Transition During War

Iran is choosing its next leader during a major regional conflict. Iranian cities have suffered airstrikes. The country’s nuclear infrastructure has also been damaged in earlier attacks by Israel and the United States.

Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, earlier suggested the Assembly of Experts might delay its meeting for safety reasons.

“They cannot risk further death and damage to the institution,” she told CNN.

However, some members now say the decision does not require a full in-person meeting.

Vakil also warned that leadership change may strengthen hardline factions. “Moments of succession tend to strengthen conservative and security-driven factions, at least initially,” she said.

She also noted that political debates in Iran usually happen privately. “Any internal debate about the country's direction is likely happening quietly and within narrow elite circles rather than in public view.”

What Mojtaba’s Leadership Could Mean

Analysts say Mojtaba’s rise would signal that hardline groups still dominate Iran’s political system.

According to analysis by Al Jazeera, such a result could reduce chances for negotiations in the near future.

Iran’s leaders have already said they are ready to continue fighting the United States and Israel for months if needed. They have also challenged both countries to send ground forces, saying Iran is prepared to defend itself.