Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei? Seven Things to Know About Iran's Likely Next Leader

As the war destroys Iran's existing leadership structure, attention is turning to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader who is widely considered the most likely figure to emerge as Iran's next leader from within the regime's remaining power structure. The younger Khamenei, who has operated largely in the shadows while wielding enormous influence over Iran's intelligence apparatus and clerical establishment, represents continuity with the theocratic system his father built rather than the democratic transition that many Iranians and Western leaders are hoping the war will produce. Understanding who Mojtaba is and what he represents is essential to grasping why the fall of one Khamenei may not mean the end of the system he created, and why the question of Iran's future leadership is far more complicated than regime change advocates suggest.