The new Supreme Leader from Tehran has been elected. Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

The Assembly of Experts in Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son initially considered dead of Ali Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the country, according to publications Ynet and Iran International. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the ayatollah, is considered aligned with the radical conservative camp in Iran, just like his father.

Khamenei, at the age of 56, is an uncompromising conservative cleric and a researcher with ties to the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). He has avoided the spotlight for most of his life, but it is believed that he has wielded power from behind the scenes.

Analysts outside Iran have previously described Mojtaba as a "guardian" in his father's inner circle. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, stating that, although he did not hold an official position, he effectively "represented" the supreme leader.