By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the new Supreme Leader in succession to his father who was murdered in an airstrike launched by the United States and Israel. 

In addition to his father, his mother, wife, and his sister were murdered in the same airstrike that killed the former Supreme Leader.

 Mojtaba Khamenei was not present when the initial airstrike murdered his family and has so far survived the ongoing attacks from the United States and Israel. The Clerical Body that consists of 88 members that elects the Supreme Leader of Iran have made a call to the citizens of Iran to show solidarity and support for Mojaba Khamenei.

 Mojtaba, who had been an instrumental figure within the inner circle of the previous Supreme Leader, has never run for office in any capacity or been subjected to a public vote. Mojtaba had been a front runner to replace his father for years, as his father had maintained his position as President for 8 years before assuming his leadership role in perpetuity for 36 years before his death last week. 

The young Khamenei has chosen to maintain a low profile especially in regards to his succession as Supreme Leader, due to the sensitive nature of the topic and to perpetuate a dynasty that was reminiscent of a monarchy similar to Pahlavi Monarchy pre-islamic revolution of 1979.

 Meanwhile at a press conference on Monday, United States President Donald Trump has threatened to intensify tensions in Iran if the country carries through their threat of withholding oil supply.

 “We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world,” said Donald Trump at the Monday press conference.