New Delhi, Mar 1: As Iran grapples with the vacuum left by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in US-Israel strikes, his second son Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is emerging as a leading candidate to succeed him—despite constitutional hurdles and clerical pushback.
Born in 1969, Mojtaba wields massive behind-the-scenes clout through deep ties to the IRGC and Basij militia, often advising his father on security and outshining siblings. US-sanctioned in 2019, whispers of his rise fueled 2009 election protests, with opponents dubbing him a “shadow ruler.”
Yet dynastic succession jars Iran’s post-monarchy ethos—Mojtaba holds just mid-level clerical rank (hojatolislam), far below grand ayatollah status required by law. Recent pushes elevated him informally, banking on hardliner and Guard backing.
