2026 Iranian Supreme Leader election

2026 Iranian Supreme Leader election
3–8 March 2026
86 members of the Assembly of Experts[1]
57 votes needed to win
Nominee Mojtaba Khamenei
Electoral vote ≥57[2]
Last Supreme Leader before election

Ali Khamenei

 Elected Supreme Leader

Mojtaba Khamenei

An election for the third supreme leader of Iran was held in early March 2026, after the assassination of Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026 during the 2026 Iran war. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was announced by the Assembly of Experts as the new Supreme Leader on 8 March.[3]

Background

Before Khamenei’s assassination, no person was officially named as heir or candidate. But sources like Reuters and BBC News reported on possible names.[4] [5] In 2014, reports said the choice was already made but not announced.[6] The Assembly of Experts must choose the next leader. Its sixth session began after the 2024 election and would last until 2032.

Khamenei said before his death that the choice must be made with "truth, the need of the country and God" and not for convenience.[7] In 2024, a secret council of four members of the Assembly was said to be looking at candidates.[8] One member said a successor was already chosen but not named for safety.[9]

Candidates

Candidate Born Curriculum vitae Ref.

Alireza Arafi		 1959
(age 66–67)
Meybod, Iran		 [10]

Mojtaba Khamenei		 8 September 1969
(age 56)
Mashhad, Iran
  • Son of Ali Khamenei
  • Former IRGC officer
  • Deputy Chief of Staff of the Supreme Leader for Political and Security Affairs
 [11]

Hassan Khomeini		 23 July 1972
(age 53)
Qom, Iran
  • Grandson of the first Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini
  • Caretaker of the Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini
 [12]

Mahdi Mirbagheri		 1961
(age 64–65)
Qom, Iran
[13][14]
[15]

Sadiq Larijani		 12 March 1963
(age 63)
Najaf, Iraq		 [16]

Electoral system

The Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts for life. Article 111 of the Constitution of Iran says if the leader dies or is removed, the Assembly must meet quickly and choose a new one.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Given that two seats were vacant at the time of the election, the required majority was slightly lower, at 57 members.
  2. ↑ Included multiple ballots.
  3. ↑ "Iranian Council of Experts Elects Mojtaba Khamenei as New Supreme Leader". The Eastern Herald. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Sharafedin, Bozorgmehr (21 October 2014), Williams, Alison (ed.), "Iran's possible next Supreme Leader being examined: Rafsanjani", Reuters, archived from the original on 16 December 2015, retrieved 30 December 2015
  5. ↑ Sharafedin, Bozorgmehr (13 December 2015), "Who will be Iran's next Supreme Leader?", BBC, archived from the original on 3 February 2016, retrieved 30 December 2015
  6. ↑ Kamali Dehghan, Saeed (31 October 2014), "When the time comes, who will succeed Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?", The Guardian, archived from the original on 20 December 2015, retrieved 30 December 2015
  7. ↑ "چه کسی راست می‌گوید؟ − نگاهی به "بحران جانشینی"" [Who is telling the truth? - A look at the "succession crisis"]. Radio Zamaneh (in Persian). 2020-06-13. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  8. ↑ "عضو مجلس خبرگان ایران: کار برای انتخاب جانشین رهبر ایران به طور "کاملا مخفی" جریان دارد". Afghanistan International (in Persian). 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  9. ↑ "ANALYSIS: Who Will Succeed Ali Khamenei as Iran's Supreme Leader?". Kayhan Life. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  10. ↑ "Who might replace Iran's supreme leader? There's no clear successor". CNN. 28 February 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "If Israel kills Iran's Khamenei, could his son Mojtaba suceed him?". euronews. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Who will be Iran's next Supreme Leader?". BBC News. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "فرهنگستان علوم اسلامی". FOEAC (in Persian). Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri: Jalili Supporter or Future Supreme Leader?". iranwire.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "Who could succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to lead Iran? | Explainer News". 1 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "Analysis: Quest to find Iran's next Supreme Leader". BBC. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Iran's Constitution Article 111", Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran
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