Iran's Next Supreme Leader REVEALED?! What Happens Now?!

Well, this is a development no one really saw coming, though perhaps we should have. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named Iran's new Supreme Leader. The announcement, rather abruptly, came Monday following the senior Khamenei's death during the opening stages of those U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. It's a seismic shift, to say the least.

Iran's Next Supreme Leader REVEALED?! What Happens...

For those who need a quick refresher, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had held the reins since 1989. That's a long time. His death, especially in the manner it occurred, has obviously thrown the country into a bit of turmoil. Now, his son, Mojtaba, steps into those very large shoes.

The Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for this crucial decision, stated that Mojtaba was chosen after "precise and extensive deliberations." You have to wonder just how precise and extensive those deliberations *really* were given the circumstances. They're calling on the Iranian people, particularly the religious and academic heavyweights, to pledge allegiance to the new leader. This is all about maintaining the Islamic system established back in '79, the revolution that ended the Shah's reign.

Born in '69, Mojtaba is one of Ali Khamenei’s six kids. He's got the resume you'd expect: volunteering in the Iran-Iraq War in the '80s, followed by religious studies in Qom, the Vatican City of Shia Islam. Tragic note: several of his relatives, including his sister, were killed in the same airstrike that took his father. The personal is always political, isn't it?

Unsurprisingly, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the real power brokers in Iran, have already pledged their loyalty via their media outlet, Sepah. That’s almost a given. The real question is how much *actual* power Mojtaba will wield, and whether the IRGC will see him as a puppet, or a genuine leader.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, thanked the Assembly for convening despite the ongoing airstrikes – one even hit their headquarters in Qom. He painted a picture of smooth sailing despite "the tricks of enemies who had hoped for a deadlock." Hmm, smooth sailing under those conditions? I'm skeptical, to be honest.

This all comes after Trump's declaration that there will be no deal with Iran, only "unconditional surrender." So, you have a new, relatively untested leader stepping into power in a nation reeling from airstrikes and facing an implacable enemy. Buckle up, folks. This is going to be interesting, and potentially very dangerous.

(For more on this developing story, check out RT.com and their piece "Iran picks Khamenei’s successor – who were the candidates?")