Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former supreme leader, tipped to become Iran’s next head of state

The Guardian World

by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor

March 4, 2026

Choice of anti-western candidate would give signal that senior figures will not seek accommodation with US Middle East crisis – live updates What we know on day five of the Iran war Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the assassinated Ali Khamenei, is being heavily tipped to succeed his father as supreme leader of Iran, which would pitch a hardliner into the task of steering the Islamic republic through the most turbulent period in its 48-year history and offer a powerful signal that, for now, it has no intention of changing course. No official confirmation has been given and the announcement may be delayed until after the funeral of Ali Khamenei, which was on Wednesday postponed. Continue reading...

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Originally published on The Guardian World on 3/4/2026