Nigeria, March 9 -- Iran's state media have reported that the Mujtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the country's new Supreme Leader.

The development, reported by Al Jazeera on Sunday, citing Iranian state outlets, comes days after the death of the elder Khamenei from US and Israeli missile strikes. It also comes despite repeated statements by US President Donald Trump that he must be involved in the election of a new Ayatollah.

The appointment places Mojtaba Khamenei at the helm of the Islamic Republic's most powerful office, a position that holds ultimate authority over Iran's political system, armed forces, judiciary and key state institutions.

Under Iran's constitution, the Supreme Lead...