Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ali Khamenei who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, has been chosen as Iran's new Supreme Leader - a decision that is likely to anger US President Donald Trump.
The appointment of Mojtaba, 56, who gained a reputation as a powerful figure behind the scenes of his father's decades-long tenure, has only seemingly strengthened the Iranian regime's resolve against the U.S. A host of senior officials have vowed to continue fighting the escalating war that has now entered its 10th day.
"We pledge that, in defending the rights of the great Iranian nation, in advancing national interests and security, and in realizing the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution, we will not waver for a moment," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said immediately after the announcement.
"We will obey the commander-in-chief to the last drop of our blood," a statement from the defense council said.
The stark pledges of loyalty stand in stark contrast to Trump's insistence on an "unconditional surrender" from Iran - a sentiment that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed on Sunday, declaring that Iran "will have no choice" but to withdraw.
But some experts argue that the possibility of a softer approach from Iran is no longer on the horizon.
“If there was once even the slightest chance that Mojtaba Khamenei would lead the country on the path of major reforms, such as those initiated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, which would include reducing tensions with America, it is now impossible,” one analyst told TIME, arguing that Mojtaba’s loss of his father, mother, wife, and a child during US-Israeli airstrikes has filled him “with an inexhaustible desire for revenge.”
Mojtaba's choice also goes against Trump's demand that Iran choose a successor who is acceptable to the US.
“I’m not going to go through this to end up with another Khamenei,” Trump told TIME on Wednesday, as reports circulated that Ali’s second son was the frontrunner to succeed him. “They can choose, but we have to make sure it’s someone who makes sense for the United States.”
Trump reportedly told Fox News that he was "not happy" after the announcement of Mojtaba's appointment.
The US president previously argued that Mojtaba was not a viable choice to lead Iran and indicated that the US would not support that line of succession. Here is a summary of what he said:
"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump told Axios on Thursday.
He wanted to be actively involved in selecting Iran's new leader, similar to the situation that developed after US forces captured Venezuela's ousted president, Nicolás Maduro, in January.
Trump doubled down on the stance he made clear to TIME magazine, expressing his refusal to accept a new indictment that would simply continue the former Ayatollah's harsh policies.
Accusing Iran of "wasting" time with Mojtaba, he labeled the second son as "easy."
In another interview, Trump explained the reasoning behind his desire to be involved in the process of selecting Iran's new leader, arguing that it is "so that we don't have to come back every five years and do this over and over again."
"We want someone who will be great for the people, great for the country," he said on Thursday, adding that Mojtaba was an unlikely choice.
While Trump said he does not want the US to return to Iran, he again did not give a timeline for when this current war might end.
"I would say it's moving ahead of schedule and much faster than anyone would have ever expected," he offered, in lieu of an expected completion date.
The US president warned on Sunday that a new leader "won't last long" if appointed without his prior approval.
"He's going to have to get our approval. If he doesn't get our approval, it won't last long," he told ABC News.
Echoing previous remarks, Trump added: "We want to make sure we don't have to go back every 10 years, when you don't have a President like me who won't do that."
