Assembly of Experts Names Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader After U.S. and Israel Killed Ali Khamenei

Iran’s Assembly of Experts is reported to have named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader.

“- The conflict escalated into a wider regional war as reported US–Israeli strikes on Iran entered a fourth day, with thousands of targets hit and at least 787 people killed in Iran, including more than 168 children”

Ahram Online

Several outlets say the naming followed U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Al Jazeera

Il Sole 24 ORE said the Assembly 'names Mojtaba Khamenei Iran’s new supreme leader amid reports of an Israeli‑American strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei'.

The Associated Press reported Iran was 'scrambling to replace Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled for 37 years and was killed in a surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment'.

The Straits Times noted the Assembly met virtually 'as it prepared to choose a new supreme leader after the reported death of Ali Khamenei in US‑Israeli strikes'.

Mojtaba Khamenei is described across reports as a long‑time, behind‑the‑scenes operator with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and seminary networks, a profile that analysts say would shift control toward security institutions if he leads.

Il Sole 24 ORE called him a “long‑time behind‑the‑scenes power broker with close IRGC and Basij ties,” the New York Times noted he “joined the Revolutionary Guards around 1987… and long operated behind the scenes running the supreme leader’s office,” and the Associated Press called him “a mid‑level Shiite cleric with strong Revolutionary Guard ties who has not previously held public office.”

Al Jazeera

The Straits Times likewise described him as “a reclusive but influential figure with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”

The succession process is unfolding amid reported IRGC pressure, legal and political complexities, and anxiety about dynastic transfer.

“Key developments — by location In Iran - Strikes on Tehran damaged the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) complex and the historic Golestan Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)”

Al Jazeera

Il Sole 24 ORE reported the Assembly met "under IRGC pressure after a reported raid on its Qom headquarters" as it chose Mojtaba.

The Associated Press described a provisional council — "President Masoud Pezeshkian, hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and senior cleric Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi" — steering the country while the 88-member Assembly prepares to formalize a successor.

Analysts and regional commentaries warned that selecting Mojtaba could revive fears of hereditary succession and deepen hard-line, security-centered governance, with the Sri Lanka Guardian noting his rise "is aided by the resulting power vacuum but complicated by his lack of public office experience and prior opposition to hereditary succession."

The leadership crisis has coincided with extensive regional violence, reported strikes on civilian and military sites, and large-scale evacuations.

Al Jazeera cited Iranian state media and the Iranian Red Crescent reporting 'at least 787 dead in Iran (the report said the toll included Supreme Leader Khamenei)'.

Arkadelphian

Al Jazeera also described threats such as the IRGC declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed.

Il Sole 24 ORE detailed reported drone strikes on the CIA compound at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh and a suspected drone hit the U.S. consulate in Dubai.

HuffPost and WRAL described U.S. evacuations and embassy closures and reported that drones caused a 'limited fire' at the U.S. Embassy compound in Riyadh.

Regional outlets and analysts also record Hezbollah and Lebanon-Israel exchanges and strikes on infrastructure, highlighting a broad and dangerous escalation.

Reports and official statements remain fragmented and sometimes contradictory, producing persistent uncertainty about key facts and outcomes.

Time relayed President Trump's claim that the attacks 'knocked out most of the candidates' and that he later 'claimed 48 senior Iranian leaders died'.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The BBC cautioned that some major killing claims, including individual commanders, were 'not independently verified'.

Several outlets, including The Irish Sun and The Sun, explicitly noted that initial reports of Mojtaba’s selection and Khamenei’s death were reported by opposition-linked media and have not been independently verified.

World leaders and institutions have urged restraint even as evacuations and security measures continue.

Il Sole 24 ORE said the Pope appealed for prayer and dialogue and that global leaders are watching for further escalation.

That combination of strong claims, competing narratives, and rapid developments makes the situation fluid and contested across the sources.