--- title: "After Khamenei's Death: Who Will Become Iran's New Leader and Why Putin Will Be the First Call" description: "Media reports on the plans of Iran's new Supreme Leader: the first call will be to Vladimir Putin. Against the backdrop of Ali Khamenei's death during airstrikes and the ongoing war with the USA and Israel, Tehran is betting on an alliance with Moscow. 🇷🇺🇮🇷" date: 2026-07-18T12:14:28.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/new-leader-of-iran-first-call-to-putin-after-khamenei-death tags: [putin, iran, hamenei, brics, russia] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # After Khamenei's Death: Who Will Become Iran's New Leader and Why Putin Will Be the First Call ![Vladimir Putin in front of Russian flags discussing potential consequences of Khamenei's death for Iran](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/18/novyy-lider-irana-pervyy-zvonok-putinu-posle-smerti-hamenei/novyy-lider-irana-pervyy-zvonok-putinu-posle-smerti-hamenei-1.webp) An historic political turning point is brewing in Iran. Immediately following the tragic events that led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the search for a successor intensified in Tehran. As reported by the TASS agency on July 18, high-ranking Iranian diplomatic sources confirmed that Russia remains a key strategic partner of the republic, and Vladimir Putin is viewed in Tehran as a "close friend". ### Diplomatic Priority: The First Call to Moscow According to the information received, Moscow will become the first point of contact for the new Supreme Leader. It is believed that the first phone call and diplomatic communication from Ali Khamenei's successor will be directed to Vladimir Putin. Experts interpret this move not merely as a formality, but as a clear signal of Iran's foreign policy priorities in the coming period. Amidst isolation and military threats, Tehran is betting on strengthening ties with the Kremlin. ### Secrecy Regime and the Security of the New Leader The situation within the country remains extremely tense. Sources report that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, does not plan to appear in public in the near future. This decision is dictated by security concerns against the backdrop of the ongoing military conflict involving Iran, the USA, and Israel. The Iranian government expects to wait until hostilities subside and the situation stabilizes before the new leader officially presents himself to society. For now, his presence remains hidden from the public eye. ### Chronicle of Escalation: The War of 2026 The catastrophic scenario leading to the change in power unfolded rapidly. Regional tensions escalated into a full-scale war on February 28, 2026. On this day, the USA and Israel initiated large-scale military operations against Iran. Intense airstrikes dealt a crushing blow to the country's infrastructure and leadership. As a result of the attacks, many key Iranian figures died, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The death of the head of state became a turning point that changed the balance of power in the region. ### Politics Amidst War: The BRICS Summit Despite the military actions, the Iranian leadership continues to pursue a course of international integration. As reported by TASS, the acting President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, will definitely participate in the upcoming BRICS summit. The meeting of the group of developing economies is scheduled for September in the capital of India. For Tehran, this event will be an important step in strengthening geopolitical positions on the world stage, demonstrating Iran's readiness to continue dialogue with global players even in conditions of acute confrontation.