Iran has announced the successor to the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei died on the first day of the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran, as the duo rained missiles on his residence and office. The new Supreme Leader is his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
After the Assembly of Experts, the 88-member council responsible for such succession matters announced its decision, all other Iranian institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed their satisfaction and pledged total loyalty to Mojtaba.
Mojtaba Endorsed by the IRG
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRG) of Iran was quick to endorse Moktaba as his father’s successor. Before taking up a serious role as an assistant to his elderly father, Mojtaba was also a member of the IRG. So, the IRG is glad that one of them has taken the country’s most revered position.
Moreover, they know Mojtaba to be a hardliner just like his late father. The IRG is happy to have a leader who will, hopefully, behave like his father, showing toughness where the President appears weak.
At the beginning of the year, when protestors took to the streets to complain of economic hardships, Ali Khamenei authorized the IRG to confront them forcefully, amid apologies from President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Last week, the president was apologetic to the Gulf countries that Iran had hit with war drones and missiles without provocation. However, that apology was followed soon after by a tough statement from the IRG, making it clear that Iran was going to attack anyone who is making it convenient for its enemies to operate: anyone who holds war assets on behalf of either the US or Israel.
Apparently, there are many hardliners in Iran, because after Pezeshkian’s soft stance, some lawmakers criticized his position, and more so, his public apology. Iranian media also grilled the president for the apparent show of weakness.
One of Iran’s top leaders, and arguably the most influential, Ali Larijani, hailed Mojtaba’s appointment, underlining its importance in showing the US the unity within Iran’s leadership. He said that the US and Israel had looked forward to the potential breakdown of law and order after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei, so they must be disappointed.
Who is Ali Larijani?
Larijani has been influential in decisions affecting Iran both internally and externally, including matters related to the military. In the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranians viewed him as an “all-purpose” individual. He was even central in the repression of protestors earlier this year.
He is the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) secretary, a position generally more powerful than that of a cabinet minister. He is also effectively the link between the civilian government and the IRGC, a military organ.