While Mojtaba Khamenei officially began his tenure as Iran’s third Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, explosive reports on Wednesday suggest that his appointment may have directly violated the final wishes of his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Alleged Secret Will
According to researchers and intelligence-linked sources cited by the New York Post, Ali Khamenei’s will explicitly advised against his son succeeding him.
- The Claim: Khosro Isfahani, a research director for the National Union for Democracy, stated: “In Khamenei’s will, he explicitly asked Mojtaba not to be named as successor.”
- The Logic: Reports suggest the late leader feared the optics of a hereditary “monarchy” within a revolutionary republic, and some sources claim he viewed Mojtaba as a figure who was “nothing without his father’s name.”
The IRGC’s “Pliant” Choice?
Despite the alleged parental warnings and hours of reported opposition from senior clerical figures in Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pushed the appointment through.
- A Strategic Proxy: Senior Iranian sources suggest the IRGC prefers Mojtaba because they view him as a “more pliant” version of his father.
- Hardline Shift: Analysts predict his leadership will result in a more aggressive foreign policy and intensified internal repression, effectively “bludgeoning aside” the concerns of Iranian pragmatists.
Donald Trump’s Chilling Warning
The geopolitical reaction has been swift and severe. U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to Fox News and Axios, has made it clear that Washington does not view the succession as legitimate.
- “Not Happy”: Trump described the appointment of the late leader’s son as “unacceptable.”
- Direct Threat: In a blunt assessment of Mojtaba’s safety, Trump remarked, “I don’t believe he can live in peace,” warning that continuing his father’s policies would lead to another major war within five years.
Fact Check: Gory Visuals of Ali Khamenei
As posters of the new leader are displayed across the region, including in the Lebanese city of Tyre, a “Fact Check” has emerged regarding viral images of the late Ali Khamenei.
- The Verdict: Visuals claiming to show a “gory photo” of Khamenei’s body in the rubble of the February 28 strikes have been debunked as fabricated. However, official imagery of the wreckage in Tehran continues to emerge as the city clears the strike zones.