Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been elected as the next Supreme Leader of Iran, according to Israeli media reports. He was chosen as his father’s successor by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the reports said.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the country for 36 years, was killed in joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28. The attack reportedly took place when he was inside his compound. Along with him, his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were also killed. His wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, later died after succumbing to injuries sustained in the strikes.

According to the report, Khamenei will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad. A “large farewell ceremony” will be held in Tehran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a post on Telegram. However, the date for the burial has not yet been announced.

Khamenei had not publicly designated a successor before his death. Following the strikes, a three-member interim Leadership Council assumed the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader until a new successor was elected. The council comprised Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

The joint US-Israel strikes were named ‘Operation Epic Fury’. They were launched after nuclear talks had stalled and amid claims that Tehran had resumed its nuclear activities. The strikes targeted several Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran. Reports said that more than 700 people were killed in the attacks.

Hours after the strikes, Iran responded by launching missiles. Many of the missiles reportedly struck Gulf regions, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Qatar and Bahrain. Tensions across the Middle East continued to rise as Iran vowed to avenge the killing of its Supreme Leader.

US President Donald Trump reacted to the situation and warned that it was “too late” for Iran to seek talks to “escape a war”. His remarks came as both sides continued to exchange attacks.

As part of the retaliation, drones and missiles reportedly hit oil facilities and US embassies in the Gulf region. Meanwhile, Israel pushed its troops deeper into Lebanon to battle the Tehran-backed Hezbollah after the group entered the conflict.

On the fourth day of the conflict, a drone attack caused a fire at the US Consulate General Dubai. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the drone strike. He said that all staff members at the consulate “were safe”.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue military operations and warnings. Iran has vowed revenge for the killing of its long-time leader, while US and Israeli officials maintain that the strikes were carried out following stalled negotiations and concerns over nuclear activity.

The burial arrangements for Khamenei are yet to be officially announced, though authorities have confirmed that Mashhad will be his final resting place and that a large ceremony will take place in Tehran. The leadership transition has now formally moved forward with the reported election of Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei by the Assembly of Experts.