Members of Iran's Assembly of Experts announced that the name “Khamenei” will continue as Iran's leader, sparking speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei might be chosen as the new leader to succeed his father.
On 8 Mar 2026 GMT+7, members of the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting Iran's new Supreme Leader, stated that the name “Khamenei” will remain as Iran's leader. Previously, the assembly indicated the new leader had been chosen, but no official final decision had been announced.
In a video released by Iranian media, Hossein Ali Hekmatyar said, “The matter of appointing the leader... has been completed... The name Khamenei will persist. The voting has ended, and I hope authorities will announce it soon... There is no need for any concern.”
Hekmatyar's remarks suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on 28 Feb, may have been selected as the new Supreme Leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is a mid-ranking cleric without an official position in Iran's regime but is well known to have strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
However, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (5 Mar) that he “cannot accept” the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as his father's successor.
Additionally, Trump told ABC News on Sunday (8 Mar) that Iran's next Supreme Leader would not last long if he did not approve of the appointment.
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Source:cnn