Iran's Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council has called on citizens to "gather simultaneously across the country" at 3 p.m. today (6 p.m. Hanoi time) to pledge allegiance to the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

State media reported that the inauguration ceremony for the new supreme leader is expected to take place at Enghelab Square in central Tehran at 6 p.m. (9 p.m. Hanoi time).

Image of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on a screen in Tehran on 9/3. Photo: Reuters

This announcement followed the Iran's Assembly of Experts' decision one day prior to select Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late leader Ali Khamenei, as the nation's next supreme leader.

After the new supreme leader was announced, Iranian state television shifted its broadcasts from war news and funeral reports to vibrant revolutionary songs. The network also covered expressions of support for the new leader, interspersed with scenes of crowds celebrating in public squares across many cities.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared its "absolute readiness to obey and sacrifice to carry out the sacred commands" of the new supreme leader. The IRGC further hailed Mojtaba Khamenei as "a new dawn and phase for the revolution and the leadership of the Islamic Republic".

Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly closely associated with the IRGC, having served within its ranks during the final stages of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988).

Conversely, some Iranians opposing the government expressed concerns that the new leader would maintain a hardline stance and escalate hostility toward the US and Israel. "This is a sign that things will get much worse," stated Alireza, an engineer in Tehran.

The supreme leader holds Iran's highest political and religious authority, possessing the final say on all national matters. Ali Khamenei occupied this position from 1989 until his death on 28/2 in an attack by the US and Israel, which initiated their campaign.

Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official, asserted that the election of the new supreme leader demonstrated the "enemies' failure" and thanked the Assembly of Experts for conducting the vote amidst the ongoing conflict.

Larijani stated, "Despite enemy plots to assassinate the late leader Ali Khamenei with the hope of pushing Iran into a deadlock, Mojtaba Khamenei was elected through a legal process." He added that the new supreme leader must be "a symbol of unity," urging political factions to set aside differences and support Mojtaba.

Huyen Le (Source: CNN, NY Times)