Mojtaba Khamenei officially appointed Iran's new leader

The Assembly of Experts in Iran has elected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, the state broadcaster reported referring to the assembly.

"At today's extraordinary meeting, Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei was unanimously elected by the distinguished representatives of the Assembly of Experts as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the statement reads.

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Media outlets had previously named him the most likely candidate. According to some reports, the candidacy of 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei was contested and criticized as an undesirable example of dynastic succession in a system based on revolutionary principles.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged allegiance to the new Supreme Leader. 

FM Abbas Araghchi congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, and swore allegiance to the new leader on behalf of the country’s entire diplomatic corps.

"The election of the new Supreme Leader of Iran guarantees the preservation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and strengthens national unity in the current dangerous situation," Araghchi said.

The diplomat promised not to abandon his commitment to protect the rights of the Iranian people and advance Iran’s national interests in the international arena.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier rejected Mojtaba Khamenei as a candidate to be Iran's new supreme leader. After the new supreme leader was named, Trump declined to respond.

"We'll see ​what happens," Trump said.