US-Israel-Iran tensions: Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, and will he become the next Supreme Leader of Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei

US-Israel-Iran tensions: Following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack, the cleric regime now faces the prospect of trying to find a successor. Meanwhile, Alireza Arafi, the religious leader of the Guardian Council, has been appointed to Iran's Leadership Council. This body will assume the role of Supreme Leader until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader.

Arafi will be ⁠part of the ⁠temporary leadership council alongside President Pezeshkian ‌and Supreme Court Chief Justice Mohseni-Ejei, Al Jazeera reported.

Among the names that have come to attention is Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's second eldest son, who has long been seen as an influential but behind-the-scenes figure in Iran's power structure.

56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei is considered one of the most influential but often obscure figures in Iran's ruling system.

Born in Mashhad in 1969, he grew up during the revolutionary struggle against the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. His father, a prominent cleric at the time, was repeatedly arrested and exiled by the Shah's security forces.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution transformed the family's fortunes, and Mojtaba moved to Tehran, where he attended the elite Alawi High School, known for preparing government insiders.

According to the state news agency UANI, he later pursued religious studies in Tehran and Qom, studying under prominent conservative clerics, including Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi.

Although Mojtaba is a mid-ranking cleric and not an ayatollah, he has long been considered a powerful man behind the scenes in the Supreme Leader's office. Analysts often compare his role to that of Ahmad Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's son, who served as a gatekeeper and confidant during his father's reign.

Mojtaba's influence is believed to stem from his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He served in the Habib Battalion during the Iran-Iraq War and is said to have forged lasting relationships with individuals who later rose to senior positions in Iran's security apparatus, including intelligence and Basij commanders.

For years, Mojtaba has been accused by political rivals and foreign governments of playing a role in electoral politics and security operations.

The United States sanctioned him in 2019 under an executive order targeting individuals associated with Iran's Supreme Leader. The US Treasury stated at the time that Ali Khamenei had delegated some aspects of his authority to his son, who was described as representing the leader in an official capacity despite holding no elected office.

Despite his proximity to power, Mojtaba's potential succession would face significant obstacles.

Mojtaba does not currently hold the rank of Ayatollah, and in a system built on the abolition of a dynastic monarchy, father-to-son succession is highly sensitive.

Nevertheless, some analysts say Mojtaba's strong ties within the IRGC and security establishment could strengthen his candidacy, especially if influential groups align with him.

In recent years, an unofficial campaign has reportedly sought to enhance his religious credentials, though critics within the cleric organisation remain wary. Under Iran's constitution, the 88-member Assembly of Experts is responsible for selecting the next Supreme Leader.

According to CNN, this body's job is to evaluate qualified clerics and appoint those who meet the necessary religious and political qualifications.

The constitution allows for an interim leadership arrangement if necessary, ensuring that executive authority continues during the assembly's deliberations.