Reports from Tehran say Iranian citizens were heard shouting a new chant from balconies and windows during the night: “Death to Mojtaba Khamenei!” The chants reportedly began after rumors spread that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had been chosen to lead the Islamic Republic.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was reportedly selected by the regime’s Assembly of Experts after his father was killed during the ongoing war. The appointment marks the first time power in the Islamic Republic has effectively passed from father to son, a move widely criticized as resembling a hereditary dynasty. 

Despite his appointment, Mojtaba has not appeared publicly since the announcement, reportedly due to injuries suffered during the strikes that killed his father and several family members. His absence has fueled speculation and uncertainty inside Iran.