Iranians Express Terror as Mojtaba Khamenei Elected New Supreme Leader
In the wake of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's killing in a missile strike on the first day of the war, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as Iran's new Supreme Leader. The 56-year-old hardliner, a long-standing influential figure in Iran's clerical establishment, assumed the role on Sunday, but many Iranians are voicing deep fears that his leadership will bring no meaningful change from his father's repressive regime.
Citizens Warn of Continued Repression Under New Leadership
Amid a near-total communications blackout imposed by Tehran, making it extremely difficult to speak to residents inside Iran, those who risk arrest by authorities have shared their concerns. One resident, named Mohammed, stated, 'We are sick of the Mullahs controlling us and we really hope Israel and America kill him as well soon. We are not happy about this new leader, he's as bad as his father.' This sentiment was echoed by others, with a barber adding that people are going about their normal lives while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to arrest individuals.
A Tehran resident revealed, 'People are terrified of the selection of Mojtaba and everyone is waiting for him to be removed as soon as possible.' Another man told the BBC, 'Even the thinnest of chances for a change are no more within the system. So everything will remain much the same – they don't even need to change their chants to support the name.' A third individual expressed fears of vengeance, saying, 'He's vengeful. They have killed his father and he won't let go. If he can't get revenge from the US, he will get his revenge from us ordinary people.'
International Reactions and Ongoing Conflict
Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli warned, 'Whoever the Iranian regime appoints as supreme leader is a marked man,' reflecting Israel's vow to hunt down and kill the new leader. US President Donald Trump dismissed the election process, stating, 'He's going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long.' In the UK, Foreign Office minister Baroness Chapman commented, 'The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader suggests no change in direction from Iran,' emphasizing the government's focus on national security.
It has emerged that Mojtaba was wounded in a bomb blast, though it is unclear if it was the same incident that killed his father. Iranian state TV referred to him as a 'jaanbaaz', a term for someone injured by enemy action, but exact details of his injuries remain undisclosed. He has not been seen in public since the war began due to fears of targeted killings by the US and Israel.
Mixed Responses Within Iran
Despite the criticism, thousands flocked to a square in Tehran to pledge their allegiance to Mojtaba during celebrations. A woman was seen holding up a poster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, symbolizing support for the new leadership. However, the overarching mood among many citizens is one of apprehension, with warnings that Mojtaba's rule will perpetuate the hardline policies of his father, leaving little hope for reform or relief from ongoing repression and conflict.
