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Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visited Hezbollah’s office in Tehran on October 1, 2024. — Reuters
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has become a leading contender to succeed his late father as Iran’s Supreme Leader after years of cultivating strong connections with the elite Revolutionary Guard and gaining influence within the clerical hierarchy.
Having survived U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran, Mojtaba is viewed by Iran’s ruling establishment as a potential successor to his father, who was martyred during an airstrike last Saturday, according to two Iranian sources.
As a prominent mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba has opposed reform-minded groups seeking to foster better ties with the West, especially as efforts intensify to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He’s been known to favor more restrictive policies and has enjoyed broader freedoms compared to other clerics.
His close alliance with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) enhances his power across Iran’s political and security sectors. Officials familiar with the situation describe him as operating behind the scenes as a “gatekeeper” for his father.
“He’s got a strong base of support within the IRGC, particularly among the younger radical factions,” explained Kasra Aarabi, head of IRGC research at United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based policy group. “If Mojtaba is alive, chances are high he could succeed his father,” he added, describing Mojtaba as already functioning as a “miniature supreme leader.”
### Decision on the Next Supreme Leader Expected Soon
The Assembly of Experts, responsible for selecting Iran’s next leader, is nearing a decision, with an announcement imminent, Tehran-based Assembly member Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami told state TV on Wednesday. The candidates remain unnamed.
The supreme leader holds the ultimate authority on national policies, including foreign affairs and nuclear issues. Western nations aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, insisting its program is purely for civilian use.
Should Mojtaba be chosen, he will face mounting pressure from U.S. sanctions that have severely impacted Iran’s economy. He would also encounter opposition from Iranians prepared to stage mass protests demanding more freedoms, despite the government’s violent crackdowns.
Born in 1969 in Mashhad, Mojtaba grew up during his father’s leadership against the Shah’s regime and served as a young man in the Iran-Iraq War.
Educated under conservative religious scholars in Qom’s seminaries—the heart of Iran’s theological education—he holds the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam.
Despite his influence, Mojtaba has never formally held a governmental position, though he is widely recognized as his father’s chief confidant. He has appeared at loyalty rallies but has spoken publicly only sparingly.
His role has been a subject of controversy, with critics opposing dynastic politics in Iran—a nation that overthrew a U.S.-backed monarchy in 1979.
### U.S. Sanctions and Controversies
In 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba, citing his role as a de facto representative of the supreme leader, despite lacking any official government position. These sanctions targeted him for what the U.S. perceives as undue influence and legitimacy.
He faced particular criticism during protests in 2022, sparked by the death of a young woman in police custody after her arrest for allegedly violating strict Islamic dress codes.
In 2024, Mojtaba’s publicly shared video in which he announced the suspension of his religious classes in Qom stirred speculation about possible reasons behind the decision.
Mojtaba resembles his father significantly and wears the black turban typical of Sayyeds, indicating lineage tracing back to Prophet Muhammad.
Despite this, critics argue he lacks the clerical credentials—ranked below Ayatollah—that many believe are necessary for the role of supreme leader. His rank of Hojjatoleslam is a step below Ayatollah, a position held by his father and Iran’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini.
He remains a candidate primarily because former President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in 2024, removing a leading competitor.
A 2007 U.S. diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks recounts Iranian sources describing Mojtaba as a pathway to reaching Khamenei himself. He is widely believed to have played a key role in the rise of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected president in 2005.
Mojtaba supported Ahmadinejad’s disputed 2009 re-election, which triggered Egypt-style protests suppressed by security forces, including the Basij militia. Moderate cleric Mehdi Karroubi, who ran against Ahmadinejad, accused Mojtaba of supporting him—an allegation Khamenei denied.
His wife, who was killed in Saturday’s airstrike, was the daughter of prominent hardliner Gholamali Haddad-Adel, a former parliament speaker.
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