CNN: Khamenei’s second son Mojtaba among possible successors

There is no clear successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to CNN. 

Following the ayatollah’s death, interim leadership is expected to select a new leader. The candidate must be a man, a cleric with political competence, moral authority, and loyalty to the Islamic Republic.

CNN identifies 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s second son, as a leading contender. He is known for his close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia.

However, the report notes that Mojtaba Khamenei’s lack of senior clerical rank and formal position could hinder his appointment. Additionally, the transfer of power from father to son is generally disfavored in Iran.

On February 28, Iran’s state media formally announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following reports of coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran. Authorities declared a 40-day period of national mourning, bringing to a close Khamenei’s nearly 37 years as the country’s highest political and religious figure.

In accordance with the constitution, an interim leadership council is to take over the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader after his passing. This temporary body consists of the sitting president, the head of the judiciary, and a cleric appointed by the Guardian Council, and it will govern until a permanent successor is selected by the Assembly of Experts.

Iranian law stipulates that the new Supreme Leader must be appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical institution elected by popular vote and entrusted exclusively with the authority to choose and supervise the country’s top leader.

By Jeyhun Aghazada