What Is Happening in Iran?
In the early hours of February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel began Operation “Epic Fury,” a series of missile and drone strikes that, according to United States Central Command, were set to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.” As strikes continued throughout the coming hours, it was reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had been killed along with other top officials in the Iranian regime following an Israeli airstrike. President Donald Trump later confirmed Khamenei’s death via Truth Social, calling for an overthrow of the Iranian regime, while also stating that the bombing would continue.
The Iranian supreme leader serves for life and is the highest religious and political authority in Iran. They are selected by the assembly of experts, a group composed of 88 clerics.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death marks only the second death of an Iranian supreme leader since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989. Khamenei oversaw the massacre of protesters in early 2026, in which an estimated 30,000 Iranians were killed by security forces. In a speech the day Operation Epic Fury began, President Donald Trump referenced the regime’s treatment of protesters as one of several justifications for the strike.
Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?
On March 9th, 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Khamenei, was named as the next supreme leader of Iran. Though he had never held an official governmental position, Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly his father’s closest advisor. He generally kept a low profile in Iran, and despite an elite education at a prominent religious institution, he was not considered a prominent scholar. Mojtaba reportedly has deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a powerful Iranian military force that plays a central role in the domestic and foreign projection of Iran’s power. The choice to select Mojtaba was reportedly one forced through by the IRGC, which views him as a more moldable version of his father.
Reactions to the New Supreme Leader
Even before his appointment as the next supreme leader, President Trump had expressed his disapproval of Mojtaba, calling his potential selection “unacceptable.” Yet, these comments notably come after President Trump’s statement on March 3 that “Most of the people we had in mind are dead.” In an interview with Fox and Friends after learning of Mojtaba’s selection, President Trump stated that he was “not happy.”
Israel’s foreign ministry also expressed its strong disapproval even before Mojtaba’s appointment, saying they would kill any replacement for the late Ali Khamenei. On March 9, in a post on X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated, “Mojtaba Khamenei’s hands are already stained with the bloodshed that defined his father’s rule.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, stated, “I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends.” This support was also echoed by Iranian regional allies, including Yemen’s Houthis rebel group, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
What Mojtaba’s Succession Means for the Iran Conflict
The choice to select Mojtaba was indeed significant. As the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba represents continuity in the face of regime destabilization efforts by the U.S. and Israel. As such, his succession can be seen as a defiant move against both internal and external forces that had hoped his father’s death would lead to a new regime. This opens the door for further targeted assassinations, including possible attacks on Mojtaba himself, as well as the potential for an escalation in regime change efforts. Iran has signaled that it will not go down without a fight, and if regime change in Iran is indeed the goal, the U.S. and Israel will need to make the tough choice between continued escalation or being forced back to the negotiating table.