Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as Supreme Leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts in March 2026, following his father Ali Khamenei’s assassination in late-February U.S.-Israeli strikes, anchors trader expectations for continuity through year-end. The vote occurred amid wartime pressures and reported IRGC involvement in expediting the process despite Mojtaba’s limited public profile and clerical rank. Recent developments include September 2026 reports of internal discussions about selecting a replacement once hostilities ease, citing physical limitations from injuries sustained in the initial attacks, alongside official statements from President Masoud Pezeshkian affirming the leader’s health after private meetings. Ongoing diplomatic efforts and conflict dynamics with the United States and Israel keep succession fluid, with the Assembly of Experts retaining formal authority over any future transition.