Iran has chosen the country’s new Supreme Leader. The name, however, has not yet been officially released. According to state media, the Assembly of Experts – responsible for the choice – reached a consensus this Sunday (8). It is unclear why the new ayatollah’s identity remains confidential.
The favorite to take the position is Mojtaba Khameneione of Ali Khamenei’s sons, who was killed on the first day of the conflict. Mojtaba does not currently hold an official government position, but has close ties to the Revolutionary Guards.
The decision was taken after 88 clerics met in recent days to decide the future of national leadership. Last week, Israel attacked a building where the group was thought to be discussing the issue; According to the Iranian government, there were no deaths in that specific action.
This will be Iran’s third Supreme Leader since the 1979 Revolution. Ali Khamenei was the longest-serving, spending almost 40 years in power until the recent attack. The position is the most important in the country: the occupant is the highest religious and political authority, commanding the Judiciary and the Armed Forces.
