Iranians appear sharply divided over the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the opening phase of the war involving the United States and Iran.
Some pro-government supporters have taken to the streets to celebrate Mojtaba’s rise to power, while others say the leadership change will not bring meaningful reform to the country’s political system.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was selected by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body tasked with choosing Iran’s supreme leader.
Several residents in the capital Tehran told the BBC that the selection signals continuity rather than change.
“Even the smallest chance of reform within the system is gone,” said a man in his 30s in Tehran, adding that the Assembly of Experts could not have chosen anyone closer to the late leader.
“For supporters of the system, nothing will change — they don’t even need to change their slogans,” he said.
For years, Mojtaba Khamenei was widely believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes during his father’s rule. Analysts expect him to maintain the same hardline policies that characterised the late leader’s tenure.
Some Iranians expressed fears that the new leader could adopt an even tougher stance.
A woman in her 20s in Tehran said she believed Mojtaba would be “more oppressive than his father,” while another resident warned that the war and his father’s death could make his rule more vengeful.
“They killed his father and he won’t forget it,” said a man in his 30s. “If he cannot retaliate against the United States, ordinary people may suffer.”
Despite criticism from some quarters, Iranian state television has broadcast large rallies supporting the new leader in cities including Qom and Mashhad, Mojtaba’s birthplace.
Footage aired by the state-run channel IRINN showed crowds waving Iranian flags and holding posters featuring Mojtaba Khamenei alongside his father.
Supporters praised the decision, saying it would ensure continuity of leadership.
“We are certain the path will continue under his leadership,” one supporter said at a rally in Tehran’s Enghelab Square.
However, social media videos verified by BBC Persian showed some protests as well, with demonstrators chanting slogans opposing Mojtaba Khamenei while others shouted religious slogans in support.
Mojtaba Khamenei largely stayed out of the public spotlight during his father’s rule, though leaked US diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks described him as a powerful figure behind the scenes and a key gatekeeper to the late supreme leader.
He has also been accused by critics of influencing presidential elections and maintaining close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the paramilitary Basij.
His appointment comes as the United States and Israel continue military strikes inside Iran amid the ongoing conflict.
US President Donald Trump has already criticised Mojtaba’s leadership, saying he was “unacceptable” and suggesting that any successor chosen without Washington’s approval “would not last long.”
Israeli officials have also warned that they would continue targeting Iran’s leadership if the conflict escalates further.
Analysts say Mojtaba Khamenei now faces the most serious test of Iran’s leadership since the Iranian Revolution, as the country grapples with war, internal divisions and growing international pressure.
With inputs from BBC