WANA (Mar 09) – Moments after Iran’s Assembly of Experts officially announced the selection of Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, crowds gathered in cities across the country, with many people celebrating in the streets and expressing support for the new leader.

 

Images circulating from Tehran and other cities showed large groups of people waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of the newly appointed leader as they gathered in public squares and main streets. In some areas, supporters chanted slogans, and vehicles joined the celebrations by honking horns and playing patriotic songs.

 

The gatherings came after several days of national mourning and uncertainty following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s previous leader.

 

Tehran Squares Become Centres of Public Gatherings

In the capital, major squares and central avenues, including Vali-Asr Square, became focal points for groups of citizens who assembled with Iranian flags and images of the new leader.

 

Videos from the scene showed crowds celebrating the announcement and congratulating each other on the selection of the country’s new leader.

 

Some participants described the announcement as the end of a tense waiting period.

A woman holds a picture of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after his son Mojtaba Khamenei was introduced as Iran’s new supreme leader, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

A Tehran resident told WANA: “After a week of waiting, and after the shock our nation experienced following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, we are now very happy that our new leader has been chosen. We are confident that this path will continue.”

 

While many celebrated the announcement, some citizens described a mixture of emotions following the leadership transition.

 

One man attending the gathering in Vali-Asr Square said: “It was truly a strange feeling. We didn’t know whether to mourn the loss of our previous leader or feel happy about the selection of the new one. But in the end, there was a sense of happiness.”

 

Another participant referred to recent tensions involving Iran and its adversaries. “The enemy showed its reaction, but in the end they will see that Iran now has another Khamenei.”

 

Among the crowd were men and women holding photographs of the late leader alongside portraits of the newly appointed one.

 

Alongside expressions of support, some citizens also spoke about their expectations for the country’s new leadership.

 

A woman attending the gathering said: “Politically, we must preserve the authority and strength we have gained and further strengthen it.”

 

She added that reforms may also be needed in certain areas: “In some sectors, especially in bringing younger generations into positions of responsibility, a review and improvements are necessary.”

 

Another participant described Mojtaba Khamenei as the most suitable choice. “In my opinion, he was the most qualified person to lead the Shiite nation.”

A picture of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Major Pledge Rally Announced

Following the spontaneous gatherings, the Islamic Development Coordination Council of Tehran Province announced that a large public rally pledging allegiance to the new leader will be held on March 9 at Enghelab Square in Tehran.

 

Organizers invited citizens to attend the event and formally express their support for the newly appointed leader of the Islamic Republic.

 

Global Media Reaction

The leadership transition quickly drew international media attention, with regional and global outlets reporting on both the political development and the public reactions in Iran.

 

Al Jazeera reported that: “Large crowds in Tehran expressed happiness over the selection of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new leader.”

 

Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen also reported that large groups of people had gathered in the streets holding images of the new leader.

 

Russia’s RT said that chants of “Allahu Akbar” echoed through parts of Tehran following the announcement.

 

Meanwhile, Sputnik published videos from Iranian streets showing people celebrating the selection.

 

Western outlets also widely covered the development.

 

The New York Times ran the headline: “Son of Ayatollah Khamenei Becomes Iran’s New Leader.”

 

Other outlets, including Bloomberg, TASS, and The Wall Street Journal, described the transition as one of the most significant political developments in Iran in recent years.

 

Several reports also examined the potential implications for regional politics and Iran’s relations with Western countries.

A picture of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Some U.S. politicians also reacted to the announcement.

 

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the development was: “not the change we expected for Iran’s future.”

 

At the same time, some political analysts on social media described the leadership transition as a sign of continuity within Iran’s political system.

 

One commentator on X wrote: “All Trump’s operation did was replace Khamenei with a younger version of him.”

 

Reactions on social media platforms were also widespread.

 

Some commentators described Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as a sign of the Islamic Republic’s political continuity.

 

In one widely shared post, a British media analyst wrote: “The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s leader is quite a slap in the face to Donald Trump.”

 

The selection of Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran quickly became one of the most widely reported international news stories.

 

Public gatherings, celebrations in several cities, and the announcement of formal pledge rallies highlight the strong domestic reactions to the leadership transition, while extensive global media coverage underscores the international significance of the development.

 

As celebrations unfolded in parts of Iran, news organizations around the world closely followed the political shift—one that analysts say could influence both Iran’s domestic trajectory and broader regional dynamics in the months ahead.