The World Iran selects Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader
Mar 9, 2026
Sarah Bettencourt, GBH reporter on immigrant-owned businesses, Samir Patel, Quanta Magazine editor-in-chief, Kaveh Madani, UN water and environment director and former Iranian official, and Karim Sajjadpur, Iran expert at Carnegie, discuss Iran’s new leader selection and its power dynamics. They cover the Revolutionary Guard’s role, questions of legitimacy and unity, environmental harms from Tehran fires, and pressures on immigrant entrepreneurs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Leader In Hiding Weakens Central Authority
- Mojtaba's capacity to govern is constrained by security and operational limits after the assassination.
- Sajjadpur explains he's likely in hiding, communications are penetrated, and delegation to others is already occurring.
Power Is Being Delegated To Trusted Operatives
- Day-to-day political and military responsibilities are being delegated to senior apparatchiks and former IRGC commanders.
- Sajjadpur names Ali Larijani handling political affairs and the parliament speaker handling military matters.
Hereditary Succession Undercuts Revolutionary Legitimacy
- Appointing Mojtaba deepens perceptions of dynastic rule, undermining regime legitimacy.
- Sajjadpur highlights the irony: Iran overthrew a hereditary monarchy yet now appears to install a son as Supreme Leader.
