Recently, an important event took place in Iran: a new Supreme Leader of the country was announced. Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei took this position after the death of his father. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially confirmed its loyalty to him. The process of appointment and who Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei is, is explained by VB.KG expert on Western Asia, Nurbek Jalilov.
According to Article 107 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the appointment of the Supreme Leader is the prerogative of the Assembly of Experts. This body, consisting of 88 Islamic theologians elected by the population, is responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader, overseeing his activities, and, if necessary, his removal. In the event of the leader's death or resignation, the Assembly of Experts analyzes candidates and selects the most suitable person.
After the passing of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the previous Supreme Leader, the process of selecting a new leader was initiated according to Articles 107 and 109 of the Constitution, which convened an extraordinary meeting of the Assembly of Experts. The experts evaluated candidates based on the following criteria:
1. Ability for ijtihad, which includes both knowledge of theological-legal sources and the authority of the scholar (mujtahid).
2. Justice and piety necessary for leadership.
3. The ability to see the correct political and social perspectives.
4. Wisdom, courage, and management skills.
As a result, after the voting, where Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei received more than two-thirds of the votes, he was elected the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Now let’s take a closer look at the personality of Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.
He was born in 1969 in Mashhad and is the second son of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. He received his initial religious education from Ayatollah Mojtahedi Tehrani. During the Iran-Iraq war, he served on the front lines among Iranian volunteers.
After the war, from 1989 to 1992, he continued his education in Qom, then returned to Tehran for five years. In 1997, Ayatollah married Zahra Haddad-Adel and returned to Qom to complete his studies.
Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei studied Islamic sciences under well-known teachers such as Ahmad Mi'anedji and Reza Ostadi, and also took courses in Islamic law from his father and other respected scholars. He actively participated in higher theological studies for over 17 years.
The scholarly activities of the new Supreme Leader, including writing notes in Arabic and discussing scientific issues, attracted the attention of many scholars. His diligence and precision contributed to the creation of new ideas in the field of Islamic sciences, especially in fiqh and legal principles.
Additionally, the Ayatollah has experience in state activities due to his interactions with high-ranking officials in Iran and participation in working meetings. His research in various fields, meetings with experts, and the development of solutions in areas such as economic stability, affordable housing, agricultural reforms, and technological development are considered important resources for the country.
