Iran under a new Khamenei: the deep division among Iranians over the country’s future with a new supreme leader

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is expected to continue the hardline regime of his father, Ali Khamenei Getty Images via BBC Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader and successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, February 28. Pro-government crowds took to the streets to celebrate the appointment of a hard-line leader, close to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRG). But other Iranians told the BBC that they do not believe there will be changes. “Even the smallest chances for change are no longer in the system,” said a man in his 30s in the Iranian capital, Tehran. He said the Assembly of Experts — an 88-member clerical body that chooses Iran’s supreme leader — could not have selected someone closer to Ali Khamenei. “So everything will be more or less the same,” he added. “They don’t even need to replace the chants to support the new leader.” There have been rumors for years that Mojtaba Khamenei maintained considerable influence behind the scenes in the country. And many expect him to continue his father’s hard-line policies. A woman in her 20s in Tehran said she believes Mojtaba Khamenei will be “even more oppressive than his father.” She told the BBC that she “really hopes that the lives of her [principais autoridades] end in war because if we stay under his rule we will all die.” Another Tehran resident in his 30s declared that “he is vindictive. They killed your father. and he will not forgive.” “If he doesn’t get revenge on the United States, he will get it on us, ordinary people. I hope Israel and the US will attack him.” Since Sunday night (8), Iranian state TV channel IRINN has been showing pro-government demonstrations in favor of Mojtaba Khamenei in several cities across the country. They include Tehran, the holy city of Qom and his birthplace, Mashhad, in the northeast of the country. Crowds are shown in the footage waving the flag of the Islamic Republic. But Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet given any speech or appeared to the public. “We are very happy. Thanks to the Assembly of Experts,” a woman told the Iranian channel. “The hand of God is protecting us. Khamenei is still our leader.” Another woman declared: “It couldn’t be better. Our hearts are excited.” Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader BBC News Persian and BBC Verify (the BBC’s data and image verification service) also confirmed videos posted on social media on Sunday night. They include both chants of “death to Mojtaba” and “death to the lackey”, in opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei, and videos with the phrase Allahu Akbar (“God is the greatest”), in support of the new leader. The 56-year-old cleric tended to maintain a low profile during his father’s rule. But there had long been rumors about his influence as the former supreme leader’s guardian. American diplomatic cables, published by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s, described him as “the power behind the mantle” in the regime. The Basij volunteer paramilitary force. Its approximately 450,000 members have a reputation for loyalty to the regime and brutality. A Tehran woman in her 40s said she believed Mojtaba Khamenei would be “worse than his father.” supporters of this regime.” This Monday (9), protesters in favor of the Iranian government gathered in Enghelab Square, in Tehran, to pay homage to their new leader. And the country’s state TV showed large crowds who gathered to demonstrate their loyalty on Sunday. Supporters show posters with Mojtaba Khamenei alongside his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1939-2026), in demonstrations held in Tehran WANA via REUTERS via BBC People showed photographs of Mojtaba Khamenei and his father waved flags as cars honked their horns. “Now we are sure that the path will continue with his leadership,” a man told the Reuters news agency. One woman described her “deep joy,” saying that Mojtaba Khamenei is “very similar to his father.” who didn’t know much about Mojtaba Khamenei before the nomination. “Now, it will be clear whether Trump has an agreement with them or not. They need to attack it,” said he, who is in his 20s. Another man said he believes “that means nothing will change.” For him, “it’s the same path, maybe even worse. I don’t think he will last.” Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump stated that he wanted to participate in the selection of Iran’s new supreme leader and that Mojtaba Khamenei would be “unacceptable.” Just hours before the nomination was announced, Trump declared that without his approval, whoever takes over “will not last long.” Israel also warned, before the confirmation of Ali Khamenei’s son as the new leader, that it would “continue to look for any successor.” *BBC News Persian is the news service from the BBC in Persian, used by 24 million people around the world — the majority in Iran — despite being blocked and routinely interfered with by Iranian authorities

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