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By Goli Innocent
Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, has concluded the process of selecting a successor to the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the identity of the chosen figure has not yet been made public.
Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly of Experts, confirmed that voting had taken place and that a decision had already been reached.
“The vote to appoint the leader has taken place and the leader has been chosen,” Alamolhoda said, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.
He added that the secretariat of the assembly would release the name of the selected leader at a later time.
Some members of the clerical body suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, may emerge as the successor. Mojtaba has long been considered a potential candidate to take over the powerful position.
Khamenei, who assumed the role of supreme leader in 1989, remained the country’s highest political and religious authority until his death.
The supreme leader holds ultimate control over Iran’s political, military and religious affairs and has the final say on all major matters of state.
Mohsen Heydari, a representative of Khuzestan province in the Assembly of Experts, said the decision followed deliberations among members.
“The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined,” Heydari said, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
“The ‘Great Satan’ has also mentioned the name of the choice made by the representatives,” he added, referring to the United States.
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The development comes amid heightened tensions following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who suggested he should have a role in determining Iran’s next leader.
Trump also rejected the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei assuming the role, describing him as a “lightweight”.
Iranian authorities have firmly dismissed the idea that the United States could influence the selection of the country’s supreme leader.
Another member of the Assembly of Experts, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, also confirmed that consensus had been reached.
“A firm opinion reflecting the majority view has been reached,” Mirbagheri said in a video released by Iran’s Fars news agency.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 during US and Israeli strikes on Iran, an attack that triggered a wider conflict across parts of the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued a warning to members of the clerical body involved in selecting the new leader.
“We wish to inform you that the State of Israel will continue to closely monitor any successor and anyone seeking to appoint one,” Israel said in a post on its Farsi-language account on X.
“We warn all those considering taking part in this meeting to select the successor that we will not hesitate to target you.”
Despite the threats, Mirbagheri said the assembly would continue its work carefully, noting that members were proceeding with deliberations even though “the current circumstances are difficult and obstacles remain.”
