Khamenei’s Son Suspends His Religious Lectures

The unexpected announcement by Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that he is suspending his religious lectures has sparked widespread speculation in Iranian circles. In a short video, his first ever, Mojtaba stated that he would halt his online religious teachings without offering a clear explanation, raising questions about the motivations behind the move and its broader political implications.

For years, Mojtaba has been a shadowy figure within Iran’s clerical and power establishment. While officially a religious scholar, his rising profile and rumors of his influence have ignited debates about whether he is being groomed to succeed his father as the next Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Critics argue that Mojtaba lacks the necessary religious credentials and experience for such a role, although the same arguments were used to dismiss Ali Khamenei. Many however see Mojtaba’s increasing visibility in religious and political circles as part of an orchestrated plan to establish a dynastic rule in Iran, similar to that in Syria and North Korea.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s recent cancellation of his online religious lectures has raised various speculations, particularly due to its timing amidst growing debate about how much longer his 85-year-old father can remain in power. Although Mojtaba himself didn’t offer any official reason, several theories are being talked about based on the current political environment in Iran and in the region.

Some have suggested that the suspension of his lectures is for security reasons, in the aftermath of what has happened to Hezbollah members in Lebanon.

Others have argued that the announcement of his cancelled lectures could be linked to heightened scrutiny from other established clerics, who are concerned about a hereditary succession in the leadership of the Islamic Republic that overthrew a hereditary monarchy.

Finally, some argue the very opposite and say the unexpected announcement by Mojtaba was in fact an attempt to prepare the ground for his succession.

To examine the above speculation, let’s first explain some technicalities of Iranian Shia clerics. The type of lectures that Mojtaba has suspended are known as “Kharej Lectures” or “outside lectures.” Kharej lectures are considered the most advanced level of seminary teachings, where the lessons are not from written texts. Instead, the lecturer reviews the written text with his own reasoning, similar to how the Jews debate the Talmud.

There is a long tradition that clerics moving up their career ladder suspend their Kharej lectures when their seminary students exceed that of the more established senior clerics. This is both a sign of showing humble piety, and also a declaration that the cleric has reached a milestone in being known and relevant, which is essential to become a Source of Emulation, the highest rank for a Shia cleric.

The fact that the news of Mojtaba suspending his lectures has become talked about both inside Iran and outside, actually helps to say he is now an established cleric.

Of course, it can be argued that the reason so many seminary students have enrolled in his classes is because of who his father is. In fact, there was a letter published recently that some grand clerics had objected to Mojtaba conducting his lectures from his father’s office and complained that he was taking advantage of his position as the son of the Supreme Leader. Nevertheless, all this talk, even when presented in a critical way, helps to show Mojtaba is now a celebrated cleric.

Kharej lectures take a lot of preparation. By suspending them, Mojtaba Khamenei is also hinting that he will be spending more time on politics and will not have time to do these lectures.

A source told me that there are discussions within close circles to the Supreme Leader’s office that it is unlikely for Khamenei to be able to continue in office after the next Iranian New Year in March 2025.

Mojtaba also mentioned in his video that he had suspended the lectures without telling his father, and only discussed it with two others without naming them. By saying this, he is also declaring that he is acting independent of his father in making some decisions.

On balance, and from the information that we have so far, the supposition that Mojtaba has announced the suspension of his lectures to prepare for leadership succession is the most likely scenario.

If Mojtaba does become the next Supreme Leader, what would be the implications for Iran and the Middle East?

It is widely said that Mojtaba leads an austere, Spartan life, still loyal to the fundamentals of the 1979 Islamic revolution that changed Iran from a secular modern country into a backward religious regime. Mojtaba is close to and well briefed by senior IRGC officers, and has forged deep connections within Iran’s security and intelligence sectors.

Apart from his trips to London for IVF treatments that helped his wife to bear their first child, he is not widely travelled, and despite his relative youth, there is no reason to assume he is open-minded and seeks progress.

Based on all of the above, it may seem at first that Mojtaba’s succession will bring about more austerity, harsher crackdowns, and more revolutionary fundamentalist dogma.

However, Iran’s ruling clerics are also very pragmatic. Their own survival is the most important goal, while all else, including the tenets of Islam, can be temporarily sidestepped. Khamenei himself once publicly described this characteristic as “Heroic Flexibility.” His predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini, has also famously stated that “Preserving the Islamic Republic is even more important than saving the life of Imam Zaman [the awaited savior for the Shia Muslims].”

Mojtaba Khamenei’s pragmatism may compel him to embrace a brief period of reform and moderation as a strategy to secure a smoother path to succession. His understands the critical need to build broad-based legitimacy, both within Iran’s political elite and among its population. A reformist façade, or a temporary more moderate stance on domestic issues such as economic reforms, social freedoms, less destabilization of the region and negotiations with the West, could placate critics and reduce tensions.

Potkin Azarmehr, is a British-Iranian journalist and contributor with expertise on Iran and Middle East affairs. Some of his previous articles have been cited by U.S. Congressmen. For other examples of his work, click here, here, and here. 

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