Iran picks new supreme leader to replace Ali Khamenei

Published March 8th, 2026 - 09:42 GMT
supreme leader
A protestor holds a placard with an image of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei surrounded by Iranian flags outside the US consulate during a protest against the conflict in the Middle East in Mexico City on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Carl de Souza / AFP)

ALBAWABA - Iran's body announced reaching a decision and selecting a new supreme leader, replacing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

"The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined," Mohsen Heydari, a member of the selection body who represents Khuzestan province, told ISNA news agency.

Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint operation by the United States and Israel in Tehran on February 28.

Who is Iran's new supreme leader?

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Women hold portraits of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they take part in an anti-U.S.-Israel demonstration after Friday prayer in Tehran on March 6, 2026. Photo by - / AFP

Iran's Assembly of Experts announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader on Sunday.

The Israeli military said in a post ⁠on X in ⁠Farsi that it would ⁠pursue every person who seeks to appoint a successor for Khamenei, referring to the clerical body ⁠charged with ⁠choosing the country’s supreme leader.

Earlier, some sources said that Iranian cleric Mojtaba Khamenei will likely be the one who will be appointed as the supreme leader of Iran.

It is worth mentioning that Israeli security officials believe that Mojtaba is still alive after being targeted in an airstrike.