Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's Unseen Power Broker in Leadership Struggle

Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's Power Broker in a Struggle for Control

Iran's internal power struggle has found a new flashpoint: the name of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader. Rival factions are increasingly invoking his authority to attack opponents and protect their own positions, even as questions persist over whether he is actively governing the country, according to an Iran expert cited by Fox News.

The friction surfaced in two reports from Iran International concerning President Masoud Pezeshkian's relationship with the new supreme leader. The first, attributed to senior cleric Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi—a relative of the Khamenei family by marriage—claimed Pezeshkian had repeatedly threatened to resign and was warned that his next resignation would be accepted. Kharrazi quoted Khamenei as saying, "If he resigns one more time, I will approve it."

Pezeshkian's office denied the account outright. Mehdi Tabatabaei, the president's deputy for communications and information, called the allegation "baseless and an outright lie," while another presidential advisor said Kharrazi had no contact with the supreme leader and was known for telling "strange stories."

Hours later, Iran International published a second report alleging Pezeshkian had met Mojtaba Khamenei only once, inside a vehicle with tinted windows at an undisclosed location in Tehran. According to unnamed sources, the encounter lasted several minutes, the two men could not see each other, and Pezeshkian was not permitted to shake Khamenei's hand.

Resignation Claims Amid Hormuz Tensions

The reports come as Pezeshkian battles hardline factions opposed to reaching a settlement with the US over the Strait of Hormuz. The US and Europe hope a deal is imminent to reopen the strait, with pressure on Oman to accept a temporary agreement that officials in Muscat fear will leave Iran retaining near permanent dominance of the vital oil shipping channel. Ships would enter the strait on a route close to Iran but leave on a route passing through Iranian and Omani waters.

Far from being feted over an imminent diplomatic victory, Pezeshkian was forced to deny that he had repeatedly offered to resign, verbally and in writing, during a television interview marking his second anniversary in the job. Accusing some of wishing to create a rift inside Iran, he said: "If I want to resign, I will officially announce that I have resigned. I will not resign, I will stand."

The resignation claims, which have been front-page news in Iran, were made by Mohammad Bagher Kharazi, linked by marriage to Mojtaba Khamenei. Kharrazi, whose sister is married to Iran's supreme leader's brother, claimed the warning was intended to see Pezeshkian "back down."

Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei?

The episode underscores the opaque nature of Mojtaba Khamenei's role. While he is referred to as the "new supreme leader" in some reports, questions persist over whether he is actively governing. The fact that rival factions are using his name as a weapon—without clear evidence of his direct involvement—highlights the uncertainty at the top of Iran's political system.

For observers, the situation raises a familiar question: who actually holds power in Tehran? The answer, as these reports suggest, may be as murky as the tinted windows of that vehicle.