From bloody repression to hereditary leadership; the transfer of power from Ali Khamenei to Mojtaba and widespread anger and doubt

The election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the third leader of the Islamic Republic after the death of his father occurred at a time when many see this transfer of power as a continuation of the path of "bloody repression and hereditary leadership" in Iran.

In one of the most controversial political developments in the history of the Islamic Republic, the Assembly of Experts has named Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third Supreme Leader of Iran. The decision came just days after the former leader was killed in a US-Israeli military strike, sparking a wave of reactions and criticism inside and outside Iran.

According to an official announcement, the Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader by a majority vote during a meeting; an election that marked the first transfer of power from father to son in the history of the Islamic Republic.

This decision was made at a time when Iran is engaged in deep political and military crises, and many analysts see it as a sign of increasing concentration of power in circles close to the Revolutionary Guards and extremist movements.

The election of the new leader took place while the memory of the severe suppression of popular protests in the preceding months was still fresh in the minds of many Iranians.

During the widespread protests that followed the winter unrest in Iran in 1404, security and military forces dealt harshly with protesters. At the time, Ali Khamenei called the protesters "rioters" and emphasized that they must be dealt with.

Critics of the government say that the order to suppress these protests was issued directly by the Leader of the Islamic Republic, which caused peaceful protests in many cities to turn violent.

This bloody repression, according to human rights activists, is considered one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Islamic Republic, and there is still much debate about the true extent of its victims.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who was born in Mashhad in 1969, has been active behind the scenes of the power structure in Iran for years and is known as one of the figures closest to the Revolutionary Guards.

Political analysts believe that he has considerable influence among hardline fundamentalist factions, and for this reason many expect the Islamic Republic's policies to become even more radical under his leadership. Some reports also indicate that he has been linked to the Basij forces and security structures in the past and has played an unofficial role in suppressing domestic protests.

The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei drew immediate international reactions. US President Donald Trump responded to the news by saying he was not happy with the appointment and that the future of the leader was uncertain.

Reactions among Iranians abroad have also been largely critical. Some Iranian expatriates have told the media that they do not accept his leadership and see his election as a sign that the Islamic Republic is becoming a hereditary government. In contrast, the Revolutionary Guard Corps and some Iranian officials have issued statements expressing support for the new leader and emphasizing complete obedience to him.

For many observers, the most important aspect of this transformation is not just the change of leader, but the manner in which power is transferred. Critics say the election of the son of the previous leader, in a structure that was supposed to be governed by religious and legal criteria, is more reminiscent of hereditary patterns in monarchies than anything else.

For this reason, some analysts have referred to this development as "a monarchy in the guise of an Islamic Republic," a description that shows that even within Iran's religious community, serious questions have been raised about the legitimacy of this transfer of power.

With Mojtaba Khamenei now in power as the new leader of the Islamic Republic, many believe that the future of Iran is more uncertain than ever, a country that faces both deep internal crises and intense regional tensions.

Critics of the government also say that until the issue of suppressing protests, human rights violations, and the concentration of power in the hands of a limited circle is resolved, changing the leader's name alone cannot change the future course of Iran.