Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son Mujtaba Khamenei (56 years) has been elected the new supreme leader of Iran. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment marks the beginning of a ‘new era of dignity and strength’. Mujtaba has been elected because he has a big stake in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). This is the army which is currently playing an important role in the ongoing war with America and Israel. Mujtaba Khamenei himself took part in the Iran-Iraq war as a part of IRGC in 1987, due to which he was the best choice for IRGC.
Why was Mujtaba Khamenei chosen as the Supreme Leader?
Mujtaba Khamenei was very active not only in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps but also in the central politics of Iran. From time to time he also gave advice to his father and the then supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Be it Iran’s army or religious groups, he was accepted by all. In such a situation, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s second son, Mujtaba Khamenei, was chosen as the new Supreme Leader, who could take the IRGC, army, political leadership and religious groups together and was accepting of all.
Hezbollah and Houthi groups will remain united
Mujtaba Khamenei’s own father was killed in an Israeli-American attack. In such a situation, such a person was kept in mind for the post of Supreme Leader who would not compromise with the interests of Iran for power. After Mujtaba Khamenei becomes the supreme leader, Iran’s proxy groups Hezbollah and Houthi will also remain united. Also, his experience in IRGC will be useful in this war. It will be difficult for America to kill Mujtaba Khamenei because just as Benjamin Netanyahu and his entire team are staying safe in an 8 feet deep bunker, similarly Mujtaba is also staying safe.
It is said about Mujtaba Khamenei that he used to run a big business network under the leadership of his father Ayatollah Khamenei. He was considered the frontrunner by the Assembly of Experts before Sunday’s vote. The assembly is a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei’s successor.
