Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Iran’s new Supreme Leader

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Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s slain ruler, Ali Khamenei, has been selected to replace is father as Supreme Leader, according to widespread news reports, creating new uncertainty around the direction the direction the Israel- and U.S.-led conflict will take.

The younger Khamenei is considered a hardline conservative like his father, though Mojtaba Khamenei had largely kept a low profile until his father’s death during the first hours of bombings on Tehran on Feb. 28. In WikiLeaks cables from 2008 and 2009, he was referred to as “the power behind the robes” and his father’s “principal gatekeeper.”

He had been considered the leading candidate to become Supreme Leader for several days, and now, his selection for that role at least temporarily dashes hopes for a quick surrender for the Iranians.

The Iranian regime’s grip on power has been weakened by days of bombings, but it has maintained an aggressive posture, carrying out dozens of drone attacks against Israel and U.S. allies in the region.

Before the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei was formalized, President Donald Trump said his appointment to the position would be “unacceptable” to him. Israel has said that whoever was selected to replace Ali Khamenei would automatically become “a target.”

Mojtaba Khamenei is just the third Iranian Supreme Leader since the country’s 1979 revolution.