In a significant and swift transition, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was formally announced as the new Supreme Leader of Iran on Sunday, March 8. His ascension follows the recent passing of his father, the revered former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, whose death has sent shockwaves across the region.
The elder Khamenei tragically lost his life in a devastating joint attack by Israel and the United States on Tehran on Saturday, February 28. This unprecedented assault on the Iranian capital has been widely cited as the catalyst for the intensifying and now widespread conflict engulfing the Middle East.
Further compounding the tragedy, the attack on Khamenei‘s office resulted in more casualties than initially reported. Beyond the Supreme Leader himself, Mojtaba’s wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, was also reported to have been killed in the strike, as confirmed by the Associated Press. Additionally, the assault claimed the life of a toddler granddaughter of the late Ali Khamenei, and Khamenei‘s wife succumbed to her injuries after several days of hospitalization.
Adding a layer of political intrigue, Mojtaba Khamenei married Zahra Haddad-Adel in 1999, according to a report from EuroNews. Zahra was the daughter of Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a highly influential figure who previously served as the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. Gholam-Ali is renowned as a prominent and deeply conservative politician within the Islamic Republic.
While details about their personal lives remain largely private, various reports indicate that Mojtaba and Zahra were parents to three children, though limited public information is available regarding them.
Crucially, Mojtaba Khamenei‘s appointment as the new Supreme Leader was swiftly orchestrated through the powerful Assembly of Experts, a body composed of Iran’s leading clerics. In a statement quoted by AFP, the clerical body declared, “Appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive votes of the esteemed representatives of the Assembly of Experts.” This declaration underscored their unwavering resolve, explicitly stating that the body “did not hesitate for a second” in electing the new leader, even in the face of the “brutal aggression” from the United States and Israel.
Summary
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56 tahun, diumumkan sebagai Pemimpin Tertinggi Iran yang baru pada Minggu, 8 Maret, menyusul meninggalnya sang ayah, Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei tewas dalam serangan gabungan Israel dan Amerika Serikat di Teheran pada Sabtu, 28 Februari, yang memicu konflik di Timur Tengah. Serangan ini juga merenggut nyawa istri Mojtaba, Zahra Haddad-Adel, seorang cucu perempuan, dan istri Ali Khamenei yang meninggal beberapa hari setelah kejadian.
Zahra Haddad-Adel adalah putri dari Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, mantan Ketua Parlemen Iran yang berpengaruh, dan memiliki tiga anak bersama Mojtaba. Penunjukan Mojtaba sebagai Pemimpin Tertinggi baru diatur dengan cepat oleh Majelis Ahli. Majelis menegaskan tidak ragu sedikit pun dalam memilih pemimpin baru, bahkan di tengah “agresi brutal” dari Amerika Serikat dan Israel.