politics
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in U.S.-Israel Attack After 37 Years in Power
Iran held a five-day funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. His son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded in the same strike and has remained out of public view.
Jul 9, 4:00 AM·1m read1 source
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for 37 years, was killed in an attack carried out by the United States and Israel, Newsweek reported. A five-day funeral procession followed the death, after which his body began its final journey to his hometown burial site in Mashhad. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son and designated successor, was wounded in the same attack.
He has not been publicly seen or heard from since and was absent from his father's funeral, Newsweek reported. An 88-member Assembly of Experts, vetted by a 12-member Council of Guardians, has moved to formalize Mojtaba Khamenei's religious legitimacy as Supreme Leader.
In the interim, a collective leadership has taken shape that includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, and IRGC commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.
The January protests and subsequent clashes in Iran provided President Donald Trump's initial impetus for intervention, Newsweek reported. Trump later threatened to scrap the ceasefire with Iran as the funeral procession concluded. Ali Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 after Khomeini came to power in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and died that year.
Khamenei received the title of ayatollah only upon succession. Experts cited by Newsweek said Mojtaba Khamenei's accession is accelerating a shift toward greater IRGC influence within Iran's power structure.
