Recently, Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen as Iran’s new Supreme Leader — making him the third person to hold the position since the Islamic Republic was founded in 1979. He was elected on 8 March 2026 by the Assembly of Experts, the senior clerical body charged with selecting the country’s highest authority after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Aged around 56, Mojtaba is the son of the late Supreme Leader and has long been a powerful behind‑the‑scenes figure with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite this influence, he had never held a formal elected office before becoming Supreme Leader.

On March 9, Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, sent a congratulatory message to Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. "I congratulate you on your election as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. I am confident that the strong ties between Armenia and Iran will continue to develop, achieving new success," Pashinyan stated. Taking the opportunity, he also wished the Iranian people prosperity and lasting peace.

On the same day, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, addressed a congratulatory letter to Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In his message, Aliyev congratulated him on assuming the position and expressed condolences over the death of his father, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. "Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran stem from the will of our peoples, who have historically lived in an atmosphere of good-neighborliness and friendship," Aliyev stated. He emphasized his expectation that both sides would continue efforts to advance bilateral relations "in a spirit of mutual respect and trust, in accordance with the interests of our peoples," and also wished the Iranian people peace and security.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, also congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s new Supreme Leader amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a message published by the government administration, Kobakhidze wrote, "On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Georgia attaches great importance to the partnership between our two countries and peoples, founded on mutual respect." He added, "I wish the Iranian people peace and prosperity."