Mojtaba Khamenei Emerges as Front-Runner for Iran's Next Supreme Leader

Iran’s Assembly of Experts met to deliberate succession for the country’s supreme leader after the current leader’s death, with Mojtaba Khamenei emerging as the clear front‑runner backed by the Revolutionary Guards. Some clerics fear security risks and public backlash, while other finalists like Alireza Arafi and Seyed Hassan Khomeini are viewed as moderates. A decision could signal a shift toward hard‑line influence within the regime and would mark a rare, historic handover by the assembly in Iran’s 47‑year history.