Mojtaba Khamenei chosen to succeed his father as supreme leader of Iran; AP explains

Описание: (9 Mar 2026)
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ARCHIVE: Tehran, Iran - 31 May 2019
1. STILL of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, AP Photo ID 26063304147652

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 9 March 2026
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2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT3-4++
"Iran has a new supreme leader. It's Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death on February 28 in an Israeli airstrike kicked off the Israeli-American war that has spread across the wider Middle East. Now, Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be 56 years old and thought to be more hardline than his father. And he comes into power as Iran's theocracy faces perhaps its greatest challenge yet. This ongoing war that is seen sites across Iran destroyed as well as Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, its air force and its army targeted in pounding airstrikes. So far, we haven't heard from Mojtaba Khamenei himself. It's expected at some point he will provide a pre-recorded statement to people of Iran, trying to describe what his plans are. But what we've seen from the guard, which has long had ties to Khamenei, is just these pounding attacks that have spread across to hit oil infrastructure as well as water desalination plants, and that is the lifeblood of the Gulf Arab states. And we're starting to hear more criticism from them. Saudi Arabia this morning issued a very stinging statement warning that Iran would be 'the biggest loser' if it continued these attacks. So Khamenei comes into power likely already targeted by Israel and possibly facing the greatest challenge that his country's theocracy has ever seen. It remains unclear just what he'll do, and it remains unclear just what will come next."

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Tehran, Iran - 9 March 2026
++NIGHT SHOTS++
3. Various of supporter showing picture of Ali and Mojtaba Khamenei on phone
4. Various of people cheering on street, cars with Iranian flags

STORYLINE:
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s late supreme leader, has been named his successor.

He had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war.

He had never been elected or appointed to a government position. U.S. President Donald Trump had called the possible selection of the younger Khamenei unacceptable to succeed his father.

There was no immediate White House comment after the announcement by Iran’s state TV shortly after midnight Monday.

Two US officials say the State Department will order nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran escalates its retaliation for U.S.-Israel military operations.

The Associated Press' Jon Gambrell explains more.

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