Why China sees stability in hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to lead Iran

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Orange Wang,Shi JiangtaoMarch 10, 2026 at 02:15 PM

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Chinese analysts believe the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader will likely ensure continuity and stability in the country's policies, particularly regarding its relationship with China. Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed as the new supreme leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts on Monday. Analysts suggest Khamenei may maintain or even harden his father's hardline stance against the US and Israel, potentially driven by personal grievances stemming from the death of his wife during recent US-Israeli military strikes. This continuity is expected to stabilize ties between Beijing and Tehran, as Khamenei assumes ultimate authority over Iranian state affairs, including foreign policy and the nuclear program.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Grandview Institution 30% Assembly of Experts 40% Zhou Rong ×240% Tehran 50% China 60% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 60% Israel ×270% United States ×270% Iran ×480% Mojtaba Khamenei ×390%

Keywords

mojtaba khamenei 100% iran 90% supreme leader 80% us 70% china 70% israel 70% hardliner 60% foreign policy 50% stability 50% nuclear programme 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

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South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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mojtaba khamenei iran supreme leader us china israel hardliner foreign policy stability nuclear programme

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