Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reappointed the country's chief justice, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, to another five-year term. The announcement came via text message on July 5, 2026, during the funeral of Mojtaba's father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Al Jazeera and Iran Press.

Mojtaba took over as Supreme Leader in March 2026, after his father and four family members were killed in an airstrike on February 28. Iran says this was part of an attack by the United States and Israel. Since taking office, Mojtaba has barely appeared in public. This judicial reappointment is his most visible action so far. In his announcement, he asked the chief justice to fight corruption and pursue what he called "judicial transformation." He also used phrases like "arrogant powers" and "global aggressors"—the way Iran's government typically refers to the US and Israel.

The chief justice promised to support the government's goals and said he would take action against hoarding and price increases that are hurting ordinary Iranians.

Major political figures attended the funeral, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard corps, according to Al Jazeera.

What the Judiciary Did During the War

Keeping the same chief justice is significant. During the 12-day conflict, the courts under his leadership carried out executions nearly every day. Many of those executed were accused of security crimes or were protesters arrested during anti-government demonstrations in January 2026. Human rights groups reported that executions hit their highest levels since the late 1980s—a time of mass killings that remains controversial in Iran's history. After the war ended, Iran's parliament passed new laws making it easier to prosecute people for espionage and national security offences.

By keeping Mohseni-Ejei, the new Supreme Leader is signaling that this approach to security and justice will continue. Mojtaba is still consolidating his power and avoiding public appearances, but he is maintaining the same judicial system that managed the country during the war.

The bigger question is what happens next. Mojtaba's father spent 34 years managing a careful balance among Iran's military (the IRGC), religious leaders, the president, and the courts. Mojtaba inherited that balance, but now he faces international sanctions, the need to rebuild after the war, and an opposition movement that hasn't gone away. The chief justice, who has worked in Iran's security system since the 1980s, is someone all these groups know and trust.

The fact that Mojtaba announced this reappointment by text message, not through a public speech, also says something. In Iran, the way a leader communicates—or stays quiet—can carry real meaning. A new Supreme Leader who stays out of public view while quietly exercising power may be a way of showing strength without drawing attention.