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Iran's Assembly of Experts secretly names Mojtaba Khamenei acting Supreme Leader

·Undisclosed location, Iran

Iran's Assembly of Experts convened at a classified location and by a majority vote named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Supreme Leader, as acting Supreme Leader. The appointment is announced via state media with heavy security. Israel's Defence Minister immediately reiterates the threat to eliminate any successor.

Multiple Iranian state media outlets and Reuters confirmed that Iran's Assembly of Experts — meeting at an undisclosed secure location after their Qom office was struck on Day 1 — voted 68-to-18 to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as acting Supreme Leader. The formal title being used is 'Vali-ye Amr' — the guardian. His first statement via IRIB (Iranian state radio) was brief: 'The blood of the martyrs will fertilise this revolution. We will neither kneel nor negotiate from a position of weakness.' He did not appear publicly. Israeli Defence Minister Katz immediately reiterated: 'We said we would eliminate any successor. We meant it. We are tracking Mojtaba Khamenei.' This creates an immediate crisis — Iran has a new de-facto leader whom Israel has publicly declared it will assassinate. The appointment signals: (1) the regime has constitutional continuity, (2) hardline IRGC elements have prevailed over moderates in the Assembly, (3) no negotiations or surrender imminent. CIA Director has reportedly briefed the President. The White House has not commented.
iransuccessionmojtaba-khameneisupreme-leaderpoliticalassembly-experts

Actor responses

IranSUPPORTINGPOLITICAL

Mojtaba Khamenei (acting Supreme Leader): 'The blood of the martyrs will fertilise this revolution. We will neither kneel nor negotiate from a position of weakness.'

IsraelOPPOSINGDIPLOMATIC

Israel Defence Minister Katz: 'We said we would eliminate any leader appointed to replace Khamenei. We meant it. We are tracking Mojtaba Khamenei.'

Sources

T1Reuters95% reliability
T2IRIB (Iranian state media)60% reliability
T1AP93% reliability

Related signals (2)

Jason Brodsky@@JasonMBrodskyHIGH

Mojtaba Khamenei named acting Supreme Leader. Key implications: 1) Hardline continuity — no moderation, no negotiations under fire. 2) He's deeply embedded in IRGC intel. 3) Israel just publicly said it will kill him. 4) His survival is now a kinetic military problem. This conflict just got longer.

2026-03-04 19:50 UTC
22.0K likes16.0K RT3.4M views
PHAROS NOTEExpert analysis: succession = longer conflict. Mojtaba's IRGC intelligence background means he understands the military picture better than his father. 'This conflict just got longer' is the key strategic assessment.
Al Jazeera English@@AJEnglishBREAKING

BREAKING: Iran state media announces Mojtaba Khamenei named acting Supreme Leader by Assembly of Experts, meeting at undisclosed secure location. First words: 'We will neither kneel nor negotiate from weakness.' Israel Defence Minister immediately reiterates assassination threat.

2026-03-04 19:35 UTC
88.0K likes62.0K RT15.8M views
PHAROS NOTESuccession confirmed. Hardline continuity secured. Mojtaba's first statement rules out negotiations under fire. Israel's immediate assassination threat transforms the new Supreme Leader's physical survival into a military target.