In a historic shift, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s third Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, just ten days after US-Israeli strikes claimed the life of his father, former President and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. At 56 years old, Mojtaba becomes the most influential figure in Iran—a country of 90 million—during a time of war and international siege. Notably, he has never delivered a public speech nor held elected office.
His ascent, however, was quietly set in motion decades ago. In 1986, as a 17-year-old, Mojtaba volunteered for service in the Iran-Iraq War, which was in its sixth year and had already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. His father, then-President Ali Khamenei, was an ally of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Mojtaba served in the IRGC’s Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion of the 27th Mohammad Rasulullah division, deployed on Iran’s western front. The battalion was named after a companion of Imam Hussein, symbolizing sacrifice and loyalty. His brief combat experience included a reported disappearance during the recapture of Mehran. Though he returned home, his military service and the men he fought alongside laid the groundwork for his later influence.
Several figures from that division would go on to shape Iran’s military and intelligence apparatus, ultimately elevating Mojtaba’s standing:
Hossein Taeb, who joined the IRGC in 1982, lost a brother in the war, and later served as commander of the Basij militia and head of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organisation, with connections to the Khamenei family aiding his rise.
Hossein Nejat, a counter-intelligence officer during the war, led Iran’s internal security forces and was sanctioned by Western countries for his role in suppressing protests, including the 2022 Mahsa Amini demonstrations.
Qasem Soleimani, the legendary commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, built Iran’s network across the Middle East, supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, Soleimani’s influence remains a defining legacy of Iran’s military strategy.
Mojtaba’s silent rise from the battlefield to the pinnacle of Iran’s political hierarchy reflects a strategic consolidation of power rooted in military loyalty and security alignment, rather than public legitimacy or theological authority.
