Celebration and Anger as Mojtaba Khamenei Takes Iran’s Highest Office
Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war between Iran and the United States. The selection places power in the hands of a figure widely regarded as a hardliner with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The decision was made by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, had maintained a relatively low public profile during his father’s decades in power, though for years there had been speculation that he exercised significant influence behind the scenes.
Many analysts expect the new leader to continue his father’s policies. Some Iranians say that prospect has extinguished hopes of reform.
“Even the thinnest of chances for a change are no more within the system,” said a man in his 30s in Tehran.
He told the BBC the Assembly of Experts could hardly have chosen someone more closely aligned with the late leader.
“Everything will remain much the same; they don’t even need to change their chants to support the [new leader].”
Reactions among Iranians appear deeply divided. Iranian state television has aired images of pro-government rallies in cities including Tehran, Qom and Mashhad — Mojtaba Khamenei’s birthplace — where supporters waved national flags and celebrated the announcement.
At gatherings broadcast by the state news channel IRINN, some participants expressed enthusiasm about the transition.
“We’re very happy. Thanks to the Assembly of Experts. The hand of God is protecting us. Khamenei is still our leader,” one woman said.
Another woman declared, “It couldn’t have been better than this. Our hearts were warmed.”
Large crowds were also seen gathering in Tehran’s Enghelab Square, holding portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei and his father, as car horns sounded in celebration.
“Now we are sure that the path will continue with his leadership,” one man told Reuters.
Another supporter described her “profound happiness,” saying the new leader resembled his father in leadership style.
“Of all the possible candidates, he was the most deserving and the one most similar [to the former leader].”
However, many residents interviewed by the BBC expressed anger or fear about the succession.
A woman in her 20s in Tehran said she believed Mojtaba Khamenei would be “even more oppressive than his dad”.
“I really hope their [senior officials’] lives end in the war; otherwise, if we’re under his rule, we will all die,” she said.
Another Tehran resident in his 30s said the killing of the former leader could fuel retaliation.
“He’s vengeful. They killed his father, and he won’t let go. If he can’t take revenge on the US, he will take it out on us ordinary people. I hope that Israel and the US will target him.”
Opposition sentiment has also appeared online. BBC Persian and BBC Verify confirmed social-media videos showing crowds chanting both “Death to Mojtaba” and “Death to the lackey,” while others shouted “Allahu Akbar” — meaning “God is greatest” — in support of the new leader.
Some Iranians said they knew little about Mojtaba Khamenei prior to the announcement.
In Karaj, a city near Tehran, a man in his 20s said he had not heard much about him before the appointment. “Now it will become clear whether Trump has done a deal with them or not. They need to target him,” he said.
Another man said the appointment signaled continuity. “
“This means that nothing is going to change. It’s the same path, perhaps even worse. I don’t think that he will last.”
A woman in her 40s in Tehran expressed a similarly pessimistic view.
She said Mojtaba Khamenei was “worse than his dad”.
“If he’s alive, I think the US and Israel will target him. Before he was selected as leader on Sunday, everyone was chanting against Mojtaba,” she said. “No one accepts him except the supporters of this regime.”
The leadership change comes amid ongoing military pressure on Iran. US and Israeli forces have continued striking targets in the country during the conflict.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said he hoped to influence the choice of Iran’s next supreme leader and described Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable.” Hours before the announcement, Trump also warned that any successor chosen without his approval was “not going to last long”.
Israel issued its own warning before the appointment was confirmed, saying it would “continue to pursue every successor.”
Despite the announcement, Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet delivered a public speech or appearance since being named the supreme leader.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
