Mojtaba Khamenei

Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei (Persian: سید مجتبی حسینی خامنه‌ای‎; born 8 September 1969) is a son of Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. He served in the Iran–Iraq War from 1987–1988.[1] He also reportedly took control of the Basij militia that was used to suppress the protests over the 2009 election.[2][3]

Mojtaba Khamenei
Born
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei

(1969-09-08) 8 September 1969
Mashhad, Imperial State of Iran
NationalityIranian
Alma materQom Seminary
Spouse(s)
Zahra Haddad-Adel
​
(m. 2004)​
Children3
Parents
RelativesGholam-Ali Haddad-Adel (father-in-law)
Signature

He is considered by European sources as one of the possible candidates to succeed his father Ali Khamenei, who has ruled Iran for over three decades.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

Mojtaba was born in Mashhad in 1969, and is the second son of Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of Iran.[7][8][9] After graduating from high school, he studied theology. His early teachers included his own father and Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.[8] In 1999, he continued his studies in Qom to become a cleric. Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani and Mohammad Bagher Kharazi were his teachers there.[8][10]

Mojtaba Khamenei and other members of Qom Seminary on 15 March 2016

Activities and influence

Mojtaba teaches theology in the Qom seminary.[11] He was affiliated with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,[6] and supported Ahmadinejad in the 2005 and 2009 presidential elections.[12]

Journalists stated that he may "have played a leading role in orchestrating" Ahmadinejad's electoral victory,[2][8] and that he may be "a key figure in orchestrating the crackdown against anti-government protesters" in June 2009,[13] and directly in charge of the paramilitary Basij, a blackout of his name in the regime press notwithstanding.[2] In an open letter, Mehdi Karroubi, ex-chairman of the Majlis (parliament) and a reformist candidate in the 2009 presidential vote, explicitly accused Mojtaba Khamenei of participating in a conspiracy to rig the election, referring to illegal interference of "a network".[14]

Mojtaba is reported to have a strong influence over his father and is talked about as his possible successor.[2] This is thought by some to present a problem, for the Supreme Leader needs to be elected by the Assembly of Experts from among senior Shia Islamic scholars, but it has been noted that the previous incumbent, Ruhollah Khomeini, exerted a strong influence in favor of the choice of Khameini's father.[6] The Guardian argues that "The strength of Mojtaba's personal following has not been demonstrated", and while he wears clerical robes he "by no means has the theological status" to rise to Supreme Leader, although it notes that.[2] According to the Los Angeles Times, Mojtaba's religious and political stature may still not be enough for Ali Khamenei to one day just unveil his son as his successor.[12] However, the Assembly of Experts is considered by many to be a ceremonial body without any real power.[15][16] According to The Guardian and French newspaper Libération, among other sources, he is widely believed to control huge financial assets.[2][17] This allegation was rejected by Assembly of the Forces of Imam's Line, an Iranian political group led by his uncle Hadi Khamenei.[18] Former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his former ally, accused Mojtaba Khamenei of embezzling from the state treasury.[17]

Personal life

Mojtaba is married to the daughter of former parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.[19][20] His first son was born in 2007 whose name is Mohammad Bagher.[21] The couple's second child, a girl born in 2013, was named Fatemeh Sadaat. The couple's third child, Mohammad Amin was born in 2017.

Mojtaba Khamenei is widely believed to control significant financial assets.[17][22]

See also

References
  1. "Mojtaba Khamenei and Mahdi Hashemi". Archived from the original on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. Borger, Julian (8 July 2009). "Khamenei's son takes control of Iran's anti-protest militia". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  3. Sahimi, Mohammad (20 August 2009). "Nepotism & the Larijani Dynasty". Los Angeles: PBS. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. Fleishman, Jeffrey (25 June 2009). "Iran supreme leader's son seen as power broker with big ambitions". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Staff. "IRAN: EXPAT SOURCE'S INFORMATION AND VIEWS ON MOJTABA KHAMENEI, AND THIS SOURCE'S PITCH FOR USG FUNDS". The Telegraph. WikiLeaks. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. Julian Borger (22 June 2009). "Mojtaba Khamenei: gatekeeper to Iran's supreme leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  7. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/07/the-man-in-the-shadow-mojtaba-khamenei.html
  8. The Man in the Shadow: Mojtaba Khamenei, Tehran Bureau, 16 July 2009
  9. Khalaji, Mehdi (February 2012). "Supreme Succession. Who Will Lead Post-Khamenei Iran?" (PDF). The Washington Institute. Washington, DC. Archived from the original (Policy Focus (No. 117)) on 16 April 2014.
  10. Diba, Bahman Aghai (4 March 2011). "Supreme Leader of Iran and His Successor". Payvand. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  11. "Iran's Political Elite". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  12. Jeffrey Fleishman (25 June 2009). "Iran supreme leader's son seen as power broker with big ambitions". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Jeffrey Fleishman (25 June 2009). "Khamenei's son: Iran experts say he plays key role in protest crackdown". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  14. Shahir Shahidsaless (19 June 2009). "The IRGC shakes its iron fist". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  15. Takeyh, Ray. "The Myth of a Meaningful Vote in Iran". Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  16. "Anomalies in Iran's Assembly of Experts Election". Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  17. "Series of incriminations rips through Iran's conservative camp". Al Arabiya.
  18. Olfat pour, Mohammad Ali. "Why do they fear Mojtaba Khamenei". Assembly of the Forces of Imam's Line. Khabar Farsi. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  19. Tait, Robert (26 February 2008). "Ahmadinejad favours his relatives". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  20. Bazoobandi, Sara (11 January 2013). "The 2013 presidential election in Iran" (PDF). MEI Insight. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  21. "Expat source's information and views on Mojtaba Khamenei". The Telegraph. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  22. Borger, Julian (8 July 2009). "Khamenei's son takes control of Iran's anti-protest militia". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
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