Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new supreme leader

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been selected as the country’s new Supreme Leader, reports Iran International.

According to the report published on Wednesday (March 4), Iran’s powerful military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), exerted pressure on the Assembly of Experts to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei to the top post.

The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally responsible for selecting and overseeing the Supreme Leader.

Meanwhile, Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel, will be laid to rest in the holy city of Mashhad, according to Fars News Agency.

The 86-year-old leader was attacked last Saturday morning. He had served as Iran’s highest religious and political authority for 36 years until his death.

Born in Mashhad, Khamenei had reportedly expressed a wish to be buried at the shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most sacred sites in Iran for Shia Muslims.