TEHRAN, March 9 (AP) - Iran's Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new supreme leader, state media reported Sunday, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes last week .
The 58-year-old cleric becomes the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. The appointment came during an emergency session of the 88-member assembly, which described the decision as a "decisive vote" of its representatives .
"The esteemed members of the Assembly of Experts appoint and introduce Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the assembly said in a statement carried by Iranian state media .
The selection follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28 . Those strikes triggered Iranian missile and drone attacks against Israeli and US targets across the Middle East, escalating regional hostilities .
Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric, has long held significant influence within Iran's security forces and maintains extensive business networks developed during his father's decades-long rule . He served in the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and later studied at the religious seminary in Qom .
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps immediately pledged allegiance to the new leader following the announcement. The IRGC said in a statement that it respects the assembly's decision and vowed to follow his directives and defend the Islamic Republic .
The corps described Khamenei as a qualified cleric capable of guiding the country through what it called complex political and regional challenges .
International Reaction
US President Donald Trump told Fox News he was "not happy" with Iran's appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, according to comments relayed by an anchor who spoke with the president after the announcement .
Trump had warned earlier this week that it would be "unacceptable" for Khamenei's son to assume the role. Speaking to Axios, Trump said the new leader must have US approval, adding that if Iran chose a successor who continued his father's policies, the United States could return to war "within five years" .
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message reaffirming Moscow's "unwavering support" for Tehran and solidarity with Iranian friends following the leadership transition. Putin said Russia has been and will remain a partner to Iran .
China's foreign ministry responded cautiously, with spokesman Guo Jiakun telling reporters that Beijing notes the report and considers this a decision made by Iran based on its constitution. China opposes interference in other countries' internal affairs under any pretext, he said .
Yemen's Houthi group welcomed the appointment, describing it as a sign of unity and strength within the Islamic Republic. In a statement broadcast by Al-Masirah TV, the group's Supreme Political Council congratulated the Iranian leadership, saying the appointment came at a "crucial and pivotal juncture" .
Selection Process
The Iranian constitution tasks the Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics elected by popular vote, with selecting the supreme leader. The assembly did not hesitate in its decision "despite the acute war situation and direct threats from enemies," according to a statement published by the official IRNA news agency .
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously rejected any notion of foreign interference in the selection process. "We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Araghchi told NBC News before the appointment .
Before the announcement, unconfirmed reports suggested Mojtaba Khamenei, 58, and Hassan Khomeini, 53 — grandson of revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini — were the two main candidates for the position .
The supreme leader holds final authority on all political and military matters in the Islamic Republic, making the position the most powerful in Iran's political structure .
Continuing Conflict
The leadership transition comes as fighting continues between Iran and US-Israeli forces. Israeli airstrikes hit approximately 30 fuel storage sites across Iran on Saturday, igniting fires at multiple oil depots in Tehran, according to a China Media Group correspondent in the capital .
Iran's oil distribution company reported the deaths of four employees and announced temporary fuel rationing following the strikes. The Iranian foreign ministry condemned the attacks as a war crime, accusing Israel of releasing toxic substances into civilian areas .
The Israeli military said the depots are legal military targets used to store and produce propellant for ballistic missiles .
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters urged Muslim countries in the region to prevent further US and Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. A spokesman warned that Tehran would respond with similar actions if such strikes continue, saying oil prices could exceed $200 per barrel if the conflict persists .
The IRGC said it had struck and destroyed four radar systems belonging to the US-deployed THAAD missile defense system in the Middle East over the past 24 hours .
Iranian officials have signaled preparations for a prolonged conflict. An IRGC spokesman said Iran's armed forces could sustain high-intensity combat at the current pace for at least six months and have prepared for a large-scale, long-term war using heavy missiles, ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, and attack vessels .