Tehran, 9 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been elected as Iran's new supreme leader, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Sunday, citing the electoral assembly.

Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28, as part of the first wave of attacks launched against Iran by Israel and the United States.

The Iranian constitution stipulates that the 88 clerics in the Assembly of Experts determine the new head of state.

The assembly did not hesitate for a moment, "despite the acute war situation and direct threats from enemies," according to a statement published by IRNA. It said the decision was made after "careful and comprehensive deliberations."

Before the announcement, unconfirmed reports said Mojtaba Khamenei, 56 and Hassan Khomeini, 53, the grandson of revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini, were the two main candidates.

The supreme leader of the Islamic Republic has the final say in all political and military matters.

Trump said new leader needs Washington's approval

Before the announcement, US President Donald Trump again threatened Iran if Washington is not involved in deciding who would replace Ali Khamenei.

Washington's approval is needed, Trump told ABC News. "He's going to have to get approval from us," he said.

"If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long," Trump said, adding he did not want to go back every five or 10 years to intervene.

Trump answered in the affirmative when asked whether he would be willing to accept someone with ties to the old leadership.

However, he told Axios news site he would not approve of the son of the slain Khamenei as Iran's new head of state.

"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight," Trump told Axios.

"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," the US president said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected any notion of US interference before the appointment.

Araghchi told US broadcaster NBC News that his country would not accept Trump's interference in selecting a new head of state. "We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Araghchi said.

The assembly responsible for electing the revolutionary leader was elected by the people and will do its job, he said. "This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," the minister said.

Photo: dpa