04 March,2026 04:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Earlier, some media outlets had claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen as the next Supreme Leader. File Pic
The Iranian government has firmly denied reports that Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed as the successor to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the ANI.
In a post shared by the Consulate General of Iran, Mumbai on X, Tehran dismissed media speculation regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts.
The consulate stated that such reports have no official source and are "officially denied".
Earlier, Israeli media outlets had claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen as the next Supreme Leader and that a formal announcement was imminent. However, no confirmation has been issued by Iranian state media.
Reports suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei played a significant role in managing his father's office and maintained close ties with senior figures within Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Quds Force, as per the ANI.
In 2019, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, designating him for allegedly representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity without holding an elected or appointed government position.
Iranian state media has reported that a public ceremony to bid farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be held at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony is expected to continue for three days, with details of the funeral procession to be announced later.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised US President Donald Trump, accusing him of undermining diplomacy.
In a post on X, Araghchi alleged that negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme were disrupted by military action, claiming diplomacy had been betrayed.
Speaking at the White House, Trump described Iran's leadership as "dangerous" and defended recent military strikes, arguing they had prevented a potential nuclear threat.
The conflict in West Asia has now entered its fifth day following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which reportedly killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior figures.
In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting US military bases and Israeli-linked assets across the region.
Tensions remain high as international observers closely monitor developments in Iran's leadership and the broader regional security situation.
(with ANI inputs)
