Tehran. There was a stir in the political circles of Iran and global diplomacy when the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was officially confirmed from Tehran. According to government information, 86-year-old Ali Khamenei lost his life in a massive airstrike targeting the Supreme Leader’s office in Tehran on February 28. It is being told that this attack was directly aimed at destroying Iran’s most secure and important government targets. Immediately after this unexpected incident, in a rapid change in the power structure of Iran, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as the new supreme leader of the country. The government of Iran has declared 40 days of mourning for this national loss and declared a nationwide public holiday of seven days.
At present, security arrangements have been extremely tightened throughout Iran. Additional security forces and Revolutionary Guards have been deployed outside all major cities and sensitive government buildings, including the capital Tehran, to prevent any internal rebellion or external interference. The emergence of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader is considered a turning point for the future of Iran. Born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad, Mojtaba received education in a strictly religious environment and also served in the Revolutionary Guards during the last phase of the Iran-Iraq war. Although he never held any formal government post, he was known for decades as his father’s most trusted advisor and behind-the-scenes strategist who made major decisions.
Mojtaba Khamenei first came to global attention during the nationwide protests of 2009, when he was accused of leading a harsh military crackdown against protesters. His deep relations with the army and paramilitary forces have played an important role in taking him to the top of power. With his selection, a new political debate has also erupted within Iran. Critics argue that the basic premise of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was to oppose dynasty rule, but now the transfer of power from father to son raises questions on that revolutionary idea. At present, Mojtaba’s position seems very strong due to the full support of the military leadership. Now the eyes of the whole world are fixed on what direction the leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei takes Iran’s foreign policy and the current war going on in the Middle East.
