Putin Congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on Appointment as Iran’s New Supreme Leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a formal message of congratulations to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei following his election as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, the Kremlin announced on Monday.

The telegram, published on the official Kremlin website, comes just hours after Iran’s Assembly of Experts unanimously selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to succeed his father. The elder Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28 that ignited the ongoing regional conflict.

In his message, Putin expressed confidence that Mojtaba Khamenei would “honorably continue your father’s work” and unite the Iranian people amid ongoing challenges. He emphasized Russia’s steadfast partnership with Tehran, stating that Moscow has been and will remain a “reliable partner” for the Islamic Republic.

“Russia reaffirms its firm support and solidarity with Iran and its leadership,” Putin wrote, adding that the new leader would need “great courage and dedication” to resist what he described as “armed aggression.”

The appointment marks a historic first in the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history: the transfer of supreme leadership from father to son, defying long-standing norms against hereditary succession in Iran’s clerical system. Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection has drawn mixed international reactions, with U.S. President Donald Trump labeling it “unacceptable” and warning of potential escalation in the war.