Succession - Iran chooses Mojtaba Khamenei

[Twiglets1]

Iran has picked Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, as the country’s new Supreme Leader. He was elected by clerics despite lacking the senior religious credentials typically required.

His appointment signals a willingness to continue the war with the US and is likely to anger Donald Trump.

Khamenei, the second son of the late Ali Khamenei, is a shadowy, hardline conservative figure with deep links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

He had long been considered a contender, despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. However, the BBC note that his selection could still prove controversial:

The Islamic Republic was founded in 1979 after the monarchy was overthrown, and its ideology is based on the principle that the supreme leader should be chosen for his religious standing and proven leadership, not through hereditary succession.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78xxg05w0zo

IGRC chose him I guess.

Yes he is their man.

According to Iran International, starting early on 3 March, IRGC commanders pressured Assembly of Experts members to vote for Mojtaba Khamenei, with "repeated contacts and psychological and political pressure". A first electoral session was held online on 3 March. Assembly leaders stated that the election had to be held quickly because of the war. Members described the atmosphere of the online meeting as "unnatural". Those who presented arguments against Mojtaba Khamenei were given "limited time" to speak, discussion was cut off, and a vote was held.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iranian_Supreme_Leader_election

Trump has said that he will kill off any Hardline leader that he doesn't approve of.
Can one bomb a government to the negotiating table? 🤔
We might find out. (has not worked in Ukraine yet).

He won’t last long😂

Hopefully - another Ayatollah who believes raping nine year olds is morally justified

"its ideology is based on the principle that the supreme leader should be chosen for his religious standing and proven leadership, not through hereditary succession."

Hereditary succession coming through strong, despite the suggestion it shouldn't, there's a surprise.

Hereditary succession was a big criticism levelled against the previous monarchy that ruled Iran.

Reminiscent of "Animal Farm" to anyone familiar with the book.

The new Khamenei has a multi-million pound property portfolio in the UK and will keep hold of it because his regime is still not proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The Chagos deal, the Chinese super-embassy, the enabling of kleptocrats, terrorists, criminals and autocrats to build up huge financial assets in the UK; not all of this can be down to naivety, incompetence and secret ideology sympathy; there are people in power in the UK getting rich off the back of all this. It's absolutely rotten.

Good point @EsmaCannonball

It feels wrong that the IRGC is still not a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.

The EU has done it ... Australia has done it ... why not us?

Good question. What’s the issue?

Just saw the property portfolio pp is that it?

Looks like Mojtaba Khamenei is injured:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/mojtaba-khamenei-was-hurt-in-strike-that-killed-his-father-irans-cyprus-ambassador-confirms#:~:text=Iran's%20new%20supreme%20leader%2C%20Mojtaba,heart%20of%20Tehran%20was%20targeted.

Lots of speculation and rumours circulating on X in the last couple of days, and now mainstream media has also reported on it.

“Explaining why the cleric had not appeared in public or made any statements since he succeeded his father on Sunday, he added: “I don’t think he is comfortable [in any condition] to give a speech.”

”Earlier this week Iranian state TV described the regime’s new leader as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war” but did not specify his injuries.”

I read somewhere that he got injured in the strike that killed his father. Presumably not that badly though if he still got appointed to succeed? I don’t know.

Yes, looks like it happened during the same strike.
Not sure how badly he was injured, but if I’m not mistaken he hasn’t made any public appearances since the strike? Which seems a bit suspicious.
There is also that odd video of IRGC pledging allegiance to a cardboard cutout of the new supreme leader, all very strange:
https://metro.co.uk/video/bizarre-moment-iranians-pledge-allegiance-cardboard-cutout-new-ayatollah-3617611/

Pledging allegiance to a cardboard cutout. He must be injured otherwise why use a cardboard image. How bizarre.

It’s certainly not a great look. X was awash with cardboard Ayatollah memes today.

Did anyone see the Kurdish (I think deputy prime minister) interviewed on channel 4 news tonight. Said they were not working with America or Israel and were in contact with the regime.

Oh dear. I'm not on X but can imagine.

He may well be dead for all we know. If he is that would clearly make the point that the exact personnel are not that relevant, the regime still stands.

Well he’s going to have to show his face soon if he’s alive, as questions are starting to be asked and cardboard cutouts made! Imagine the humiliation if it comes out that their “supreme leader” isn’t even alive.

I really don’t understand why they had to use a rather silly looking cutout and not just framed portrait or something.

The whole thing is so odd. I understand why he can't appear in public right now but would have expected at least a video address to the nation.

Unless he actually is badly injured, who knows.

It could be be is dead.

It would make sense that the IGRC would claim a dead man in authority as the loyalists seem to demand no proof, the US and Israel can't kill a dead man and you can signal intent as people knew I'd his views.

It will now be up to Israel and the US to prove he is dead.

Looks like he’s in a coma:
https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/12/irans-new-ayatollah-is-a-coma-loses-leg-air-strike-27382972/amp/

Wow. If this is true he has lost a leg and his liver or stomach has ruptured.

Still the best candidate apparently 🙄

Best candidate, yet on a different thread someone was insisting Iran was winning.