Iran's Assembly of Experts names Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader
Iran's Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new Supreme Leader at a session on 8 March 2026, about a week after his father was killed in a US–Israeli strike.
Summary
Iran's Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new Supreme Leader at a session on 8 March 2026, about a week after his father was killed in a US–Israeli strike at the start of the war. The 88-member clerical body said that 'by a decisive vote' it had appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as 'the third Leader' of the Islamic Republic; the statement was issued just after midnight Tehran time. Reuters described the choice as a rebuke to US President Donald Trump, who had called him 'unacceptable', and oil rose above USD 100 a barrel as the announcement came.
Key facts
- Chosen
- 8 March 2026 (statement issued just after midnight Tehran time)
- New Supreme Leader
- Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei
- Chosen by
- Assembly of Experts — 88 clerics
- Position
- Third Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Predecessor
- His father Ali Khamenei, killed in a US–Israeli strike at the start of the war
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Who was chosen as Iran's new Supreme Leader in March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Mojtaba Khamenei
The Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, on 8 March 2026.
Which Iranian body chose the new Supreme Leader in March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Assembly of Experts
The Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics, chose Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader.
How many members does Iran's Assembly of Experts, which chose the Supreme Leader in March 2026, have?
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Correct answer: C — 88
Reuters and Al Jazeera describe the Assembly of Experts as an 88-member body of clerics.
Consider the following statements about Iran's leadership change in March 2026: 1. The Assembly of Experts described Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 2. Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen by Iran's Guardian Council. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Assembly's statement called him 'the third Leader'; he was chosen by the Assembly of Experts, not the Guardian Council.