New Iranian Supreme Leader ‘As Bad as His Father,’ Say Some Iranians – Others Rally to Pledge Allegiance

Some Iranians have warned that having the son of the slain Ayatollah as their new leader will change nothing, saying he is “as bad as his father.”

Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s new Supreme Leader on Sunday following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a missile strike on the first day of the war.

Mojtaba, 56, a hardliner, is one of the most influential figures in Iran’s clerical establishment and has long been seen as a leading candidate to succeed his father, according to the Daily Mail.

Israel vowed over the weekend to track and eliminate anyone chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts as its new leader.

Reports also surfaced that Mojtaba was injured in a bomb explosion, though it is unclear if it was the same attack that killed his father.

On Sunday, a UK Foreign Office minister warned that his appointment “does not suggest any shift in direction from Iran.” Many Iranians echoed this sentiment.

One man, named Muhammad, said: “We are tired of the mullahs controlling us and we really hope Israel and America will take him out soon.”

“We are not happy with this new leader; he is just as bad as his father,” he reportedly added.

The British outlet noted that Tehran has imposed an almost complete communications blackout, making it extremely difficult to speak with residents inside Iran. Those who do so risk arrest by authorities.

Another resident, a barber, added: “People are working. They continue their normal lives. And yes, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is still making arrests.”

Just hours after Mojtaba’s appointment, state television called him a “jaanbaaz” – a term used to describe someone very brave, courageous, and willing to risk their life for others or a cause.

Exact details of his injuries have not been disclosed, and he has not been seen publicly since the start of the war due to fears of targeted attacks by the US and Israel.

Another man told the BBC: “Even the smallest chance for change is no longer within the system. So everything will remain more or less the same.”

Nevertheless, thousands gathered in a Tehran square to pledge allegiance to Mojtaba.