Iran-US war latest: Mojtaba Khamenei named supreme leader to succeed father killed in strikes as oil prices surge
Iran has elected Mojtaba Khamenei as its new leader, more than a week after his father was killed in an airstrike.
The 56-year-old was chosen to become the next supreme leader on Sunday evening, despite Donald Trump’s insistence that he should have a say in the appointment.
“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the assembly said.
Khamenei will step into the role having never held a position in Iran’s government. He represents a continuation of his father’s hardline policies, having opposed reformers and dialogue with the West.
The decision was announced shortly after the US confirmed that a seventh military service member has died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial counterattack a week ago. They have not been named.
“Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
