Who be Mojtaba Khamenei, di man wey fit become Iran next supreme leader?

Afta Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei die for di US-Israeli airstrikes, many bin question if im powerful son Mojtaba also die.

No news come out for days. But on Tuesday (3 March), Iranian state media tok say Mojtaba dey alive and e dey engage in "consultation and review of important affairs of di kontri". However, e never show face for public.

Mojtaba dey considered as frontrunner, Reuters report quote two Iranian sources. But di claim remain hard to verify.

Meanwhile, di Assembly of Experts – 88-member clerical body wey dem task wit selecting di next supreme leader – tok say dem dey 'close to a conclusion'.

But dem no go di announce am before Ali Khamenei funeral, according to semi-official Fars News Agency, wey get link to di elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Unlike im papa, Mojtaba dey keep low profile. E never hold any govment office. E neva give public speech or interview, and only few fotos and videos don show am.

But plenty rumors dey about im influence as gatekeeper to im papa. US diplomatic cables wey WikiLeaks publish for late 2000s describe am as "di power behind di robes" wey pipo widely regard am as "capable and forceful leader" within di regime, according to AP.

But Mojtaba Khamenei potential selection fit cause controversy. Dem establish Islamic Republic for 1979 afta dem overthrow di monarchy, and dem believe say di leader suppose dey chosen based on im religious status and how e don prove leadership, no be from hereditary succession.

Ali Khamenei only tok in general term about di future leadership of di Islamic Republic.

Khamenei oppose di idea of Mobtaba as future leader, na wetin one member of di Assembly of Experts tok two years ago. But e no eva tok about such speculation for public.

Who be Mojtaba Khamenei?

So, who be Mojtaba Khamenei?

Dem born am on 8 September 1969 in di northeastern city of Mashhad, and na im be di second of Khamenei six pikin.

E finish secondary school education for Alavi School for Tehran.

At age 17, Mojtaba serve for military for short period during di Iran-Iraq War, according to Iranian media.

Di eight years bloody conflict make di regime dey suspicious of di US and di West, wey support Iraq.

For 1999, Mojtaba go Qom, wey be holy city and wey dey important for Shia theology, to continue im religious studies. E dey notable say e no wear clerical clothes until dis time, and e dey unclear why e decide to attend seminary at 30, as e dey common to go wen you dey younger.

Mojtaba na still mid-ranking cleric, dis fit be obstacle for am to become supreme leader.

For recent days, some media outlets and officials wey dey close to di centre of power for Iran don start to dey call Mojtaba Khamenei 'Ayatollah', wey be senior clerical title.

Dis fit make some observers feel say dem wan elevate im religious level and show say e fit be credible candidate for di kontri top leadership.

For di seminary system, to hold di rank of 'Ayatollah' and to dey teach advanced classes na sign say pesin get scholarly level and knowledge, and e dey among di requirements to choose pesin wey go lead.

But dis kind tin don hapun bifor. Ali Khamenei quickly become 'Ayatollah' afta e become di second supreme leader for 1989.

Accusations of political interference

Mojtaba name first enta di public spotlight during di 2005 presidential election, wey end wit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, di populist hardliner winning.

For open letter to reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi wey e write to Khamenei, im accuse Mojtaba say e interfere in di votting wit di help of IRGC and Basij militia, wey share money to religious groups in order to help Ahmadinejad win.

Four years later, Mojtaba face di same accusation. Ahmadinejad re-election cause big protests for di kontri wey dem dey call Green Movement. Some protesters dey shout say Mojtaba no fit take ova from im papa as Iran supreme leader.

Mostafa Tajzadeh, wey bin serve as di deputy interior minister, tok say di result na 'electoral coup'. Dem imprison am for seven years, and im claim say na 'di direct wish of Mojtaba Khamenei'.

Two reformist candidates, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, dem put dem under house arrest afta di 2009 election. For Feb 2012, Mojtaba meet Mousavi, tell am make e stop di protest, Iranian sources tell BBC News Persian.

Many pipo dey expect say Mojtaba go continue im papa hardline policies if e become di successor. Some pipo still believe say pesin wey don lose im papa, mama and wife for US-Israeli attacks dey unlikely to bow to Western pressure.

But e go face serious wahala to make sure say Islamic Republic survive and make pipo believe say na im be di right pesin wey go fit lead di country come out of di political and economic struggle.

Im leadership record still dey largely untouched, and pipo dey feel say if di republic turn into hereditary e fit make public discontent continue.

If dem select Mojtaba, e go become marked man - as Israeli defense minister don tok say anybody wey fit succeed go be 'an unequivocal target for elimination.'