The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026 set in motion a succession that Iran has only seen twice before, and within days the Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s third supreme leader. Here’s how the system works and what the change means for Iran’s leadership.
Supreme leaders since 1979: 3 (Khomeini, Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei) ·
Current supreme leader: Mojtaba Khamenei ·
Previous supreme leader: Ali Khamenei (1989–2026) ·
First supreme leader: Ruhollah Khomeini (1979–1989) ·
Ali Khamenei death date: 28 February 2026 ·
Literal meaning of ayatollah: Sign of God
Quick snapshot
- Ruhollah Khomeini was the first supreme leader from 1979 until 1989 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Ali Khamenei was the second supreme leader from 1989 until his death on 28 February 2026 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Mojtaba Khamenei was selected as the next supreme leader in March 2026 (Reuters (international news agency)).
- The exact date and formal inauguration of Mojtaba Khamenei’s assumption of office are not yet public.
- Whether the phrase “true leader” refers only to the supreme leader or also to other authority centers is not explicitly resolved.
- Reliable public-opinion data about popular support for Iran’s leaders is not available in the provided sources.
- 28 February 2026: Ali Khamenei died (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- 8–9 March 2026: Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
- Mojtaba Khamenei will assume the powers of supreme leader, including command of the armed forces and final say on state policy (CNN (US news network)).
- International observers are watching for shifts in Iran’s nuclear and regional posture under the new leader. (CNN (US news network))
Seven key facts about Iran’s leadership, one pattern: the succession has always been a clerical decision, not a popular one.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Current supreme leader | Mojtaba Khamenei |
| Selection date | March 2026 |
| Previous supreme leader | Ali Khamenei (1989–2026) |
| First supreme leader | Ruhollah Khomeini (1979–1989) |
| Ali Khamenei lifespan | 19 April 1939 – 28 February 2026 |
| Succession body | Assembly of Experts |
| Literal meaning of ayatollah | Sign of God |
Who is the main leader of Iran?
The main leader of Iran is the supreme leader, the highest political and religious authority. As of March 2026, that position is held by Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the previous supreme leader. The supreme leader outranks the president and controls the military, judiciary, and state media (Al Jazeera (Doha-based news network)).
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
- Mojtaba Khamenei is a 56-year-old cleric and the son of Ali Khamenei (Al Jazeera (Doha-based news network)).
- He was chosen by the Assembly of Experts on 8–9 March 2026 (Reuters (international news agency)).
- Before the succession, he had been seen as a frontrunner for years (Reuters (international news agency)).
The implication: Mojtaba Khamenei’s background as a cleric and son of the former leader makes him a continuation of the establishment, not a reformer.
Who replaced Ayatollah Khomeini?
Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, died in 1989. He was replaced by Ali Khamenei, who served as the second supreme leader for 37 years.
Who was the first supreme leader of Iran?
- Ruhollah Khomeini was the first supreme leader, from 1979 until his death in 1989 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- He led the 1979 Islamic Revolution and established the system of clerical rule (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
Why this matters: The current succession is only the third transfer of power in Iran’s 47-year history, highlighting the stability of the supreme leader institution.
Who is next after Ali Khamenei?
Ali Khamenei died on 28 February 2026. The Assembly of Experts moved quickly to select a successor.
Does Iran now have a new leader?
- Yes. The Assembly of Experts appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader in March 2026 (NPR (US public radio network)).
- The selection was reported by multiple international outlets including BBC, DW, and CNBC.
Who was the Iran leader killed in 2026?
- Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February 2026 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Details of his death are not the focus of this article, but his death triggered the succession.
The catch: Although Mojtaba Khamenei was named quickly, the exact date of his formal assumption of all powers remains unclear from official sources.
Is Ayatollah Khomeini still living?
No. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died in 1989. He is not alive in 2026.
How many wives did Ayatollah Khomeini have?
- Khomeini had one known wife, Khadijeh Saqafi (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- They married in 1929 and she died in 2009.
The trade-off: Some confusion persists online because old footage of Khomeini is still shared, but the historical record is clear.
What does ayatollah literally mean?
The title “ayatollah” comes from Arabic roots and is an honorific used for high-ranking Shia clerics.
What does the title ayatollah signify in Shia Islam?
- Ayatollah literally means “sign of God” (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- It is used by senior religious scholars who have achieved a level of authority in Shia jurisprudence.
- In Iran, the title is common among clerics in the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council.
What this means: The supreme leader must be an ayatollah, making religious credentials a constitutional requirement for the highest office.
Do people in Iran like their leaders?
Measuring public approval in Iran is difficult. The provided sources, including independent media and Carnegie Endowment, do not offer trusted polling data on leadership approval.
Is there independent polling on Iran’s leaders?
- No trusted independent polling on approval of Iran’s leaders is available in the provided sources.
- Public discussion of leadership in Iran is shaped by restrictions on dissent (Carnegie Endowment (international affairs think tank)).
- Iranian state media and opposition-aligned outlets give conflicting portrayals of public sentiment.
The pattern: Without reliable polling, any claim about popularity is speculation. The safest conclusion is that the system is designed to be insulated from popular opinion.
How is Iran’s supreme leader chosen?
The process is defined by the Iranian constitution and involves the Assembly of Experts.
What role does the Assembly of Experts play?
- The Assembly of Experts is an 88-member elected body of clerics authorized to choose the supreme leader (Al Jazeera (Doha-based news network)).
- In March 2026, the Assembly selected Mojtaba Khamenei by a decisive vote (Reuters (international news agency)).
- Under the constitution, if the supreme leader dies, temporary powers go to a council of the president, judiciary head, and a senior cleric until the Assembly acts (CNN (US news network)).
The Assembly of Experts moved within days of Ali Khamenei’s death, a speed that signals the system’s readiness to prevent a power vacuum. For any potential challenger, the window of opportunity was less than a week.
Steps in the succession (March 2026)
- 28 February 2026: Ali Khamenei dies. Temporary power council convenes (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- 1–7 March 2026: Assembly of Experts holds emergency sessions. Mojtaba Khamenei emerges as frontrunner (The New York Times (US newspaper)).
- 8 March 2026: Assembly reaches majority consensus on Mojtaba Khamenei (Al Jazeera (Doha-based news network)).
- 9 March 2026: Official announcement; international media report the selection (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
Why this matters: The speed of the selection suggests a pre-arranged consensus, bypassing any public debate. Iran’s leadership transition is a closed-door clerical process.
Timeline: Iran’s supreme leaders
- 19 April 1939: Ali Khamenei is born.
- 1979–1989: Ruhollah Khomeini serves as first supreme leader (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- 1989: Ali Khamenei succeeds Khomeini as second supreme leader (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- 28 February 2026: Ali Khamenei dies (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- 8–9 March 2026: Assembly of Experts chooses Mojtaba Khamenei (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
Only three supreme leaders in 47 years, each transition triggered by the death of the predecessor.
The pattern: Only three supreme leaders in 47 years, each transition triggered by the death of the predecessor.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Ruhollah Khomeini was the first supreme leader from 1979 until 1989 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Ali Khamenei was the second supreme leader from 1989 until his death on 28 February 2026 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- Mojtaba Khamenei was selected as the next supreme leader in March 2026 (Reuters (international news agency)).
- Ayatollah is an honorific term from Arabic roots meaning “sign of God” (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
- The Assembly of Experts is the body that chose Mojtaba Khamenei (Al Jazeera (Doha-based news network)).
What’s unclear
- The exact date and formal inauguration of Mojtaba Khamenei’s assumption of office are not shown in the provided inputs.
- Whether the phrase “true leader” refers only to the supreme leader or also to other authority centers is not explicitly resolved.
- Reliable public-opinion data about popular support for Iran’s leaders is not available in the provided sources.
- The full list of political offices held by Mojtaba Khamenei before succession is not provided.
- The exact steps of the temporary power council’s handover are not detailed in the provided sources.
Quotes from key sources
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader?
— BBC News, 8 March 2026 (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
Iran’s Assembly of Experts chose Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as the new supreme leader.
— DW News, 9 March 2026 (DW (German public broadcaster))
Ali Khamenei is described as “the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.”
— Khamenei.ir on X (official account of the leader’s office)
Ali Khamenei’s lifespan: 19 April 1939 – 28 February 2026.
— Wikipedia biography (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
For readers seeking to understand the roots of the current system, the historical parallels are clear: just as Khomeini’s death in 1989 led to a smooth transition to Ali Khamenei, the 2026 succession followed the same pattern. The institution of the supreme leader is designed to survive the leader.
Frequently asked questions
What powers does Iran’s Supreme Leader have?
The supreme leader is the head of state and highest authority in Iran. He commands the armed forces, appoints the head of the judiciary, confirms the president, and has final say on foreign policy and nuclear issues (CNN (US news network)).
Does Iran’s Supreme Leader serve for life?
Yes, the constitution does not set a term limit. The supreme leader serves until death or resignation, though the Assembly of Experts can theoretically remove him. In practice, no removal has ever occurred.
Can the Assembly of Experts remove the Supreme Leader?
Technically, the Assembly of Experts has the constitutional authority to remove the supreme leader if he is deemed unfit. However, the process is opaque and has never been used.
What is the difference between the Supreme Leader and the president?
The president is the head of government, elected by popular vote every four years, and handles domestic administration and economic policy. The supreme leader is above the president and controls the military, judiciary, and foreign policy.
How many supreme leaders has Iran had since 1979?
Three: Ruhollah Khomeini (1979–1989), Ali Khamenei (1989–2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (from 2026).
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Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.