Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects the country’s highest religious authority. The announcement was broadcast on Iran’s state media on Monday night, Bangladesh time, with the assembly urging citizens to support the new leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials. Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly survived because he was not in Tehran during the attack, though his exact location remains unknown. Reuters cited two Iranian sources confirming his survival.

Mojtaba Khamenei, known for his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has long held influence in Iran’s religious and political circles. His appointment signals continuity in Iran’s leadership amid heightened regional tensions.