Khamenei's son the most likely name for the position/ Here's when Iran's new Supreme Leader is expected to be elected

2026-03-07 17:55:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Khamenei's son the most likely name for the position/ Here's when

Iran's Assembly of Experts is expected to convene within 24 hours to elect a new Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A member of the clerical body, quoted by Iranian media, said that Ayatollah Ahmad Mozafari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said that the representatives were waiting for discussions to choose a successor to Khamenei.

"The people's representatives in the Assembly of Experts are eagerly awaiting discussions on the election of a new leader and successor to the imam. We have strong hope that, with God's help, this will be done within the next 24 hours ," Mozafari said, according to foreign media.

Mozafari asked the public to avoid speculation about the decision before the assembly convenes.

"Given that no public meeting has yet been held and no vote has taken place, our request is to avoid speculation and the spread of rumors on this issue ," he said.

The assembly is responsible under Iran's constitution for appointing the country's Supreme Leader when the position becomes vacant. The leader holds ultimate authority over the state, including command of the armed forces and the final say on foreign and domestic policy.

Among the leading candidates widely discussed by analysts is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is considered part of the same ultraconservative camp as his father and has built close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one of the most powerful institutions in Iran. Although he has never held an official government position, he is widely seen as influential within the ruling circle and teaches Shiite theology at a seminary in the city of Qom, the center of Iran's religious establishment.

Analysts say he has long been seen as a potential successor, although his appointment would be controversial because it could appear to transfer power from father to son in a system established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew Iran's monarchy.

His candidacy has attracted new attention following the killing of his father during Operation Roaring Lion, the war between Iran and Israel that began a week ago. According to reports, Mojtaba survived the initial attack in Tehran that killed his father, but lost several close family members in the attack.

If elected, he would immediately become the most powerful figure in the Islamic Republic. The supreme leader oversees the military and security services, while the Revolutionary Guard reports directly to him.

So far, Iran's leadership has not made an official announcement about the succession process or confirmed who will be chosen. Analysts say security concerns and the ongoing war could affect both the timing of the decision and how it is announced publicly. /CNA