Iran has officially announced the name of its new Supreme Leader. Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has taken this position following the death of his father. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has already pledged allegiance to the new leader. Details about the election process, as well as about Ayatollah Khamenei himself, are covered by VB.KG with the participation of Western Asia expert Nurbek Jalilov.
According to Article 107 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Supreme Leader is elected exclusively by the Assembly of Experts, which consists of 88 Islamic theologians elected from various provinces. This body is responsible for appointing, overseeing the activities of, and, if necessary, dismissing the Supreme Leader. After the death or resignation of the Supreme Leader, the Assembly of Experts must select a suitable candidate based on his qualifications.
The process of electing a new Supreme Leader began after the death of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the previous leader of the Islamic Republic. In accordance with the Constitution, an extraordinary meeting of the Assembly of Experts was convened to consider candidates based on the criteria specified in Article 109:
1. The ability to perform ijtihad, which implies the theologian's skill in researching and resolving theological-legal issues, as well as his level of authority in this field.
2. Possession of justice and piety necessary for leadership.
3. A correct understanding of political and social issues.
4. Wisdom, courage, managerial skills, and physical strength to carry out leadership.
As a result, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei was elected the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, receiving more than two-thirds of the votes from the Assembly of Experts.
Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was born in 1969 in Mashhad. He initially received religious education from Ayatollah Mojtahedi Tehrani and served on the front lines among Iranian volunteers during the Iran-Iraq War.
After the war, from 1989 to 1992, he continued his religious education in Qom, after which he returned to Tehran for further studies for five years. In 1997, the Ayatollah married Zahra Haddad-Adel and moved back to Qom to complete the highest level of religious education.
He studied Islamic sciences under prominent teachers such as Ahmad Mi'anedji and Reza Ostadi, and also took courses in Islamic law from his father and other well-known scholars. For over 17 years, he actively participated in advanced theological classes.
Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei's academic activities, including preparing scientific notes in Arabic and discussing academic topics with teachers, have attracted the attention of many renowned scholars. His diligence and precision contributed to the development of new ideas in the field of Islamic sciences, especially in fiqh and legal principles.
Moreover, the new Supreme Leader has experience in state governance due to close cooperation with high-ranking officials and participation in working meetings. His research in various fields of knowledge, regular meetings with experts, and development of solutions for issues related to economic stability, affordable housing, agricultural reform, technology development, and support for advanced technologies provide important intellectual resources for the country.
