Mideast in Pictures: Iranians gather in Tehran to support new supreme leader

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, March (Xinhua) -- Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new supreme leader, Iran's Assembly of Experts announced Sunday.

Having lost several relatives in U.S. and Israeli attacks and long lived under U.S. sanctions, the new leader, born in 1969, has consistently maintained a hardline stance against the West.

Following the announcement of the new leader, Iranians attended large gatherings in Tehran on Monday to pledge allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei.

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend gatherings to pledge allegiance to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Shadati)