India, March 9 -- Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named as his successor.

The 56 year old influential leader was selected by the Assembly of Experts, Iranian state TV announced on Monday.

"Despite the acute wartime conditions and the direct threats of the enemies against this popular institution, and despite the bombing of the offices of the Secretariat of the Assembly of Experts, which resulted in the martyrdom of several staff members and members of its security team, did not pause even for a moment in the process of selecting and introducing the leadership of the Islamic system," reads a statement from the Assembly of Experts.

The second of Ali Khamenei's six children, Mojtaba is...