Mojtaba Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei (Persian: مجتبی حسینی خامنهای; born 8 September 1969) is an Iranian cleric who has served as the third Supreme Leader of Iran since 2026. He succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who had held the position from 1989 until 2026, making the Khameneis the only family to have produced two of Iran’s three Supreme Leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Supreme Leader in Iran’s system
The Supreme Leader of Iran (Rahbar-e Mo’azzam) is the highest political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic. The office was created by the 1979 constitution and first held by Ruhollah Khomeini. The Supreme Leader commands the armed forces, appoints the heads of the judiciary, state media, and the Guardian Council, and has final say on foreign policy, nuclear policy, and succession. The President of Iran is a separate role with executive responsibility for domestic affairs but is constitutionally subordinate to the Supreme Leader.
Background and rise
Mojtaba Khamenei was born in Mashhad to Ali Khamenei and Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh. He joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 1987 and served in the Iran-Iraq War. From 1989 he studied Islamic theology in Qom under his father and Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. During his father’s tenure he operated largely out of public view but built an extensive influence network across the IRGC, the Basij paramilitary volunteers (which he took control of in 2009), and the Office of the Supreme Leader, where he served as Vakil (deputy) from 2008 to 2026.
Contested succession
Speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei’s possible succession began in the early 2010s and intensified through the 2020s as his father aged. Under Iranian law the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, formally selects the Supreme Leader. Critics within and outside Iran characterised his 2026 elevation as dynastic and inconsistent with the anti-monarchical foundations of the 1979 revolution. The United States imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei in November 2019 for his alleged role in the suppression of anti-government protests.
Human rights and governance record
Iran under the leadership of the Khamenei family has faced sustained international criticism over human rights. Freedom House classifies Iran as “Not Free”. Major flashpoints under Ali Khamenei’s final years included the 2022–2023 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, the suppression of which drew condemnation from the UN Human Rights Council; the April 2024 direct military exchange with Israel; and the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May 2024. Masoud Pezeshkian was elected to succeed Raisi as President in July 2024 and remains in that role.
At a glance
| Full name | Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 September 1969, Mashhad, Iran |
| Office | Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran |
| In office since | 2026 |
| Predecessor | Ali Khamenei (1989–2026) |
| President of Iran | Masoud Pezeshkian (since July 2024) |
| Previous role | Vakil, Office of the Supreme Leader (2008–2026) |
| Sanctions | US Treasury, since 2019 |
| Human rights | Freedom House: Not Free |
Frequently asked questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
Who is the Supreme Leader of Iran in 2026?
Mojtaba Khamenei has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 2026, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei who held the position from 1989. He is the third person to hold the office since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979.
Who is the president of Iran?
Masoud Pezeshkian has served as President of Iran since July 2024. He won a snap election held after his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May 2024. In Iran’s system the President is subordinate to the Supreme Leader.
Is Iran a dictatorship?
Iran is a theocratic authoritarian state. The Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority, unelected clerical bodies vet all candidates, and opposition parties are banned. Freedom House classifies Iran as “Not Free” and The Economist Democracy Index categorises it as an authoritarian regime.
How is Iran’s Supreme Leader chosen?
The Supreme Leader is selected by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body of Shia clerics who are themselves directly elected for eight-year terms from a pool of candidates vetted by the Guardian Council. The position is held for life or until resignation.
Is Mojtaba Khamenei Ali Khamenei’s son?
Yes. Mojtaba is the second of six children of Ali Khamenei and Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh.
Who was Ali Khamenei?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (born 17 April 1939) served as Iran’s second Supreme Leader from 1989 until 2026. He succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Before becoming Supreme Leader he served as President of Iran from 1981 to 1989.
Why is Mojtaba Khamenei sanctioned by the US?
The U.S. Treasury designated Mojtaba Khamenei under Executive Order 13876 in November 2019, citing his role in representing his father on domestic policy and in advising on the suppression of protest movements, including the November 2019 protests over fuel-price increases.
Ali Khamenei, Former Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–2026)
Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei (born 17 April 1939) served as the second Supreme Leader of Iran from 4 June 1989 until 2026, a tenure of more than 36 years. He succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, and previously served as President of Iran from 1981 to 1989 under Khomeini. His long tenure was marked by the consolidation of clerical authority, the expansion of the IRGC and its economic empire, Iran’s nuclear programme and the resulting JCPOA deal (2015) and its partial collapse after 2018, the 2009 Green Movement, the 2017–2018 economic protests, the 2019 fuel-price protests, the 2022–2023 “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, and the 2024 direct military exchange with Israel.