Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

ROME (AP) — An independent researcher claimed on Wednesday that a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelangelo, the latest purported attribution to theRenaissance geniuswho is one of the most imitated artists in the world.

Italy Michelangelo

The unverified claim by Valentina Salerno has unsettled Renaissance scholars, especially since a recent sketch of a foot that was attributed to Michelangelo — but disputed by some as a copy — recently fetched $27.2 million at aChristie's auction.

Given the stakes — and Salerno's suggestion that several other works can now be attributed to Michelangelo based on her documentary research — leading experts have declined to comment.

Salerno has published her theory on the commercial website academia.edu, a non-peer reviewed social networking site academics use, and announced the first "rediscovery" at a press conference Wednesday.

The claims have drawn perhaps more attention than they normally would, given the Vatican seemed at least initially interested. Friday marks the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth and there are a number of exhibits, conferences and commemorations that are reviving attention about his genius and legacy.

The culture ministry was invited to participate in Salerno's press conference and didn't, said the abate of the order that runs the church, the Rev. Franco Bergamin, while the Carabinieri's art squad refused to weigh in on the authenticity of the statue, but said it was being protected and a laminated sign now graces the sculpture: "Alarm armed" it reads.

"We hope that this asset, which belongs to our cultural heritage regardless of whether it can be attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti or not, is part of the national heritage that we are responsible for defending," said Lt. Col. Paolo Salvatori.

'Documentary evidence on this'

Michelangelo Buonarroti, who lived from 1475-1564, created some of the most spectacular works of the Renaissance: the imposing statues ofDavid in Florenceand Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel ceiling and "The Last Judgment" fresco behind the chapel's altar. Salerno now says she has located another — a bust of Christ in the Basilica of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura, listed by Italy's culture ministry as anonymous from the Roman school of the 16th century.

She is not the first to claim it. In 1996, Michelangelo expert William Wallace wrote an article in ArtNews about the well-documented history of wrongly attributing works to Michelangelo. It quoted the 19th century French writer Stendhal as writing that at the Sant'Agnese church, "we noticed a head of the savior which I should swear is by Michelangelo."

"Stendhal's vow notwithstanding, the head has never been taken seriously, and nowadays would not even appear in a catalog raisonné under 'rejected attributions,'" Wallace wrote.

Salerno suggests that several documents in the first few hundred years after Michelangelo's death correctly attribute the work to the artist but that in 1984 a scholar debunked it, erroneously in her view, and it has remained wrongly attributed ever since.

"I have provided and will continue to provide — I hope, because the research continues — a whole series of documentary evidence on this," she said. "There will be experts in the field who will conduct their own investigations. To date, we can say that, according to the documents, the object is attributed to Michelangelo."

She suggested that the bust was modeled on Michelangelo's intimate friend, Tomaso De' Cavalieriis, and was part of the great artistic inheritance Michelangelo left to his friends and students when he died. Salerno said she came to the conclusion tracing wills, inventories and notarized documents held in church and state archives and the archives of Roman confraternities to which Michelangelo and his students belonged.

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Salerno, an actress and fiction author, has no college degree or expertise in art history. She has said she fell into the research "by chance" when she set out to write a novel about Michelangelo 10 years ago.

According to her research published on academia.edu, Salerno uncovered evidence of a secret "pact of indissolubility" among some of Michelangelo's students and their heirs to keep Michelangelo's works after he died. The pact included the previously unknown existence of a chamber, whose locks could only be opened with three keys, held by three different students, she said.

Vatican takes note

Salerno's research caught the eye of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who runs St. Peter's Basilica. He named Salerno and her mentor to a scientific committee formed in 2025 to discuss a possible Vatican exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of Michelangelo's birth.

Nothing has yet come of the committee's work. But its members have downplayed the significance of Salerno's work or refused to discuss it.

Some expressed surprise at her inclusion in a committee made up of some of the leading Renaissance and Michelangelo scholars in the world, including Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, Hugo Chapman, curator of Italian and French drawings, from 1400-1800, at the British Museum, and Wallace, professor of art history at Washington University in St. Louis.

Jatta has distanced herself from the Vatican committee when contacted by The Associated Press.

The British Museum declined to make Chapman available for comment. Gambetti's office did not respond to a request. Other committee members declined to comment.

Wallace told the AP that Salerno's methodology was sound and noted that there is a strong tradition in Europe of noncredentialed researchers doing solid work. He said he agreed with her thesis that Michelangelo didn't destroy his works in a fire, a commonly held belief at the time that has been debunked for years by scholars. Rather, he concurred with Salerno that Michelangelo entrusted what remained of his works in his final years to his students to finish his projects.

But he disputes Salerno's conclusion that a huge treasure of Michelangelo's was secreted away — and is therefore ripe for new discovery — saying Michelangelo simply wasn't producing that much in the final years of his life. Michelangelo was overseeing six architectural projects in Rome at the time. What drawings he made were sketches to resolve technical problems on the worksite, and likely don't survive because they were merely "working drawings," he said.

Wallace concurred that existence of a secret chamber that can only be opened with three keys is new. But he said proper academic scholarship would call for Salerno to transcribe the documents and allow for a peer-review process to take place.

Italy is no stranger to claims of new discoveries about old artists, with fakes, frauds and new "discoveries" of Modiglianis and other artists a regular occurrence in art history circles.

"I think I counted up 45 attributions to Michelangelo since 2000, and not one of which you can remember or mention, but every single one arrived with the headline, 'The greatest discovery of the time,' (or) 'It will change everything we think about Michelangelo,'" Wallace said. "And then five years later, we can't even remember what it was."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byAlpha World

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 04, 2026

Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

ROME (AP) — An independent researcher claimed on Wednesday that a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelang...

Read More

NFL Power Rankings, free agency edition: Ranking the most interesting teams from 1-32 heading into free agency

Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building.

The Seattle Seahawks made one big move in the offseason, and without it they probably would not have won a championship. When quarterback Sam Darnold was available, perhaps at a slight discount after struggling for the final two games of the previous season, the Seahawks signed him to a three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold wasa big reason the Seahawks won a Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots had their quarterback but needed to build around him. So they spent $364.4 million on 19 free agents, with $174.9 million guaranteed at signing,according to Spotrac. The Patriots won an AFC championship, with many of those free-agent additions playing key roles.

Each team goes into free agency with different goals, whether it's one big addition, starting a roster rebuild or adding a few players that can help them get over the top. The madness starts on March 9, when the negotiating window opens between teams and free agents.

Here is the ranking of the least to most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with projected cap space available for each team (according to Spotrac):

32:Green Bay Packers

Cap space: $-6.4 million

The Packers will want to see what a full season with Micah Parsons looks like. That was their all-in move, and it affects the team's ability to make more moves in free agency or the draft. There are some holes to fill, like on the offensive line and at cornerback, but it seems like a major move is out of the budget. Green Bay will mostly try again next season with its above-average roster, hoping Parsons' torn ACL has recovered and he raises the ceiling in the playoffs.

31:Miami Dolphins

Cap space: $-6 million

This offseason might not be pretty. There might be pipe dreams ofchasing Malik Willis, but cap constraints are a big reason the team has been talking up Quinn Ewers. It seems like the Dolphins will take their cap medicine this offseason, including a massive dead cap hit for presumably cutting Tua Tagovailoa that will likely affect their 2027 cap as well, and plan on a miserable season with eyes on it getting better in the future. It's necessary to move forward after years of mismanagement.

30:Jacksonville Jaguars

Cap space: $-16.3 million

The Jaguars made huge strides in Liam Coen's first season as head coach. They probably won't be spending much this offseason because of cap constraints, and that could cost them linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency too. They'll have to figure out bargain ways to fix the interior of the defensive line and the rest of the defense as a whole, while seeing if there's enough left over for some additions to the offensive line and perhaps running back depth if Travis Etienne leaves. The Jaguars should feel good but it might not be an interesting offseason.

29:Carolina Panthers

Cap space: $7.6 million

The Panthers have some reasons for hope after a backdoor NFC South title and a competitive playoff loss against the Rams. But they're another team looking to add to both lines, and don't have a ton of cap space to get all of that done. Perhaps the Panthers get creative with the cap and add an edge rusher or linebacker for the defense.

28:Detroit Lions

Cap space: $-3.8 million

The Lions still have a fantastic roster and will be a contender again in 2026. But paying all those stars means that the offseason could be on the quiet side. Trading away David Montgomery means they'll need to find a backup running back to Jahmyr Gibbs. They'll continue to retool the offensive line and more defensive line help would be great. But there won't be the type of cap space needed to find huge upgrades.

27:Baltimore Ravens

Cap space: $20.4 million

The Ravens want to get an extension done with Lamar Jackson. If that doesn't happen, will everything else get messy? Let's assume something gets settled with Baltimore's franchise quarterback. New coach Jesse Minter might want some different personnel for his defensive scheme (like a prime edge rusher), and the Ravens could also use another receiver and a running back to give Derrick Henry a break. Baltimore should still be in a championship window and accentuating the talent on hand could help them rebound from a bad season.

26:Philadelphia Eagles

Cap space: $362,000

Everyone was projecting an A.J. Brown trade for the Eagles, but that hasn't happened and might not. If it does, finding a new No. 1 receiver becomes a tough assignment for general manager Howie Roseman. There aren't many big needs on the roster after years of strong drafting. They just need that talent to come together a lot better than it did during last season's disappointment. The Eagles will probably have a pretty dull offseason, unless Brown is on the move.

25:San Francisco 49ers

Cap space: $22.9 million

The 49ers have some cap challenges as their star-filled roster continues to age. Adding at all levels of the defense remains a need, though getting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back from injuries will help solve some of those problems. Receiver and tight end are issues with Brandon Aiyuk on the outs, Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and George Kittle coming off an Achilles injury. And a running back to give Christian McCaffrey a break might be nice too. San Francisco's hope is that avoiding the terrible injury luck it has had the past two seasons puts the team back in line to contend for a championship. There isn't much flexibility to do much else.

24:Houston Texans

Cap space: $-13.8 million

The Texans need a lot of offensive line help. Again. Trading two offensive linemen (Tytus Howard to Cleveland and Juice Scruggs to Detroit) just means there are two more positions to fill. New running back David Montgomeryis an upgrade, but does it matter if the offensive line is inept? Houston's defense is one of the best in the NFL, so the team doesn't need to worry much there. There's one priority this offseason, and it's fixing the offensive line. Which was the same priority as last offseason.

23:New Orleans Saints

Cap space: $-44 million

The Saints are among the teams in the worst cap situation heading into the offseason. That's not surprising because the Saints live in cap purgatory. They'll get out the credit card again, sign some players and push those cap hits to the future. The Saints were better than expected last season, in large part because rookie quarterback Tyler Shough played well, but the roster still desperately needs more young talent. Overpaying for old veteran talent in free agency won't fix that.

22:Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cap space: $11.3 million

It seems fairly obvious the Buccaneers will be pouring all available resources into improving the defense, though they also have the question of what to do with franchise icon and free agent Mike Evans. Last season's collapse, which resulted in the Bucs giving up a huge lead in the NFC South and missing the playoffs, could add some urgency to their approach. There are plenty of blue-chip players in Tampa Bay. If the defense can improve, the Buccaneers can get back to winning a bad division.

21:Indianapolis Colts

Cap space: $-4 million

The Colts made a big move before last season's trade deadline when it traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner. That will affect their ability to improve the roster in this year's draft, but Gardner is a good player. The Colts have cap space, but a lot of it could be tied up in retaining Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. The Jones situation is paramount. The Colts put the transition tag on Jones, but that means other teams can sign him to an offer sheet. If the Colts can't bring Jones back then their entire offseason focus will have to change, especially with Anthony Richardson on the trade block.

20:Chicago Bears

Cap space: $1.4 million

Most teams with a quarterback still on his rookie deal that just won a division should be in line to spend big in free agency. The Bears don't have a ton of cap space though, and they'll have to get creative to add to the defense. An edge rusher could help a below-average pass rush. And center became a need when Drew Dalman suddenly retired. So there are some issues to address. Overall, the Bears should feel great coming off an NFC North title, and while their offseason might not be very splashy, the arrow is pointing up regardless of how much money they spend.

19:Arizona Cardinals

Cap space: $38.8 million

The Cardinals will be interesting because they have a decent amount of cap space and also a need at quarterback. Could this be the Malik Willis landing spot? Perhaps. The Cardinals weren't one of the top options for good candidates in the head-coaching cycle, partially because the roster is not good. There's a lot of work to be done, starting with a solution at quarterback.

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18:Pittsburgh Steelers

Cap space: $43.9 million

The Steelers don't expect Aaron Rodgers to take long to make a decision on whether he'll play again this season, which is good news. It's not like a 42-year-old Rodgers is a great option, but he would be an option (if he decides to play and also returns to Pittsburgh). If the Steelers go into the quarterback carousel, it might not be pretty. The Steelers also need to address an expensive and aging defense, and maybe should add a playmaker at receiver too. But it's hard to chart a course without knowing who is playing quarterback.

17:Cleveland Browns

Cap space: $-24.6 million

The Browns had a very good season from their rookie class. That is a positive going forward. But there are still questions about quarterback, and the Browns had all five starting offensive linemen from last season become free agents. They already filled one hole on the line by trading for Texans right tackle Tytus Howard, but more work needs to be done. The Browns also have a surprising lack of cap space, because the Deshaun Watson mistake will loom over the franchise for a long, long time.

16:Minnesota Vikings

Cap space: $-44.4 million

The J.J. McCarthy conundrum hangs over everything. Minnesota went 9-8 with terrible quarterback play, which is reminiscent of the 2024 Colts, who took off in 2025 with Daniel Jones before his injury. The Vikings have talked about wanting to add quarterback depth, but the market for quarterbacks will be rough this offseason. Will they pay up for another quarterback to push or even replace McCarthy, like the Colts did with Jones? There isn't much cap space to do that, or much else. But there is a clear question to be answered.

15:New York Giants

Cap space: $13.7 million

The Giants keep making moves that provide hope for the future. Hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach was a much-needed step. It's a team with a strong defensive line and a lot of young talent, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, and bolstering the offensive line seems smart this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the team-building philosophy changes in the first year of the Harbaugh era.

14:Washington Commanders

Cap space: $86.1 million

The Commanders got old in a hurry. Now the warts of the roster, including edge rusher, secondary, interior offensive line and tight end, are more glaring. The Commanders do have a lot of cap space to fix some of the issues. Helping Jayden Daniels after an injury-filled encore to his amazing rookie season is a big key. But the Commanders won't be back in the playoffs without some big defensive improvements.

13:Cincinnati Bengals

Cap space: $47.5 million

Same story: The Bengals need defense and offensive line help. There is enough cap space to fix some of those issues, but will ownership commit to spending money? After watching Joe Burrow miss plenty of last season due to injury, offensive line has to be addressed. But that might just mean that the defense is among the worst in the NFL again. A more aggressive franchise might be able to make wholesale changes, but Cincinnati hasn't always been into making big outside splashes. We'll see what their level of urgency is as Burrow's prime continues to slip away.

12:New England Patriots

Cap space: $35.3 million

Another spending spree? Life with an MVP candidate at quarterback on his rookie deal is good. The Patriots spent big in free agency last offseason and still are one of the top 12 teams in terms of projected cap space entering this offseason. It seems clear that the offensive line will get some reinforcements, and receiver upgrades would be a big help too. And somehow, the Patriots still have enough cap flexibility to address both areas.

11:Seattle Seahawks

Cap space: $60.7 million

The Seahawks were a dominant champion last season, losing just three games by a combined nine points. And they come into this offseason with the sixth-most projected cap space in the NFL. Seattle will try to retain Kenneth Walker, but have the cap to find a competent replacement if he leaves. They could also add some help at receiver to go with All-Pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anything the Seahawks add will be a bonus, considering how good they were last season. And they have enough flexibility to add a couple of luxury impact players.

10:Atlanta Falcons

Cap space: $8.9 million

The Falcons are in an interesting position. They did some good things last season but fired their coach because ultimately they underachieved. They have a roster that has plenty of talent but also a quarterback situation that is unsettled due to Michael Penix's health and inconsistent play. With Kirk Cousins gone, it seems that another quarterback to back up Penix or replace him as he works back from a torn ACL will have to be added. That won't come cheaply. There's also a big question surrounding defensive endJames Pearce Jr. and his legal situation. There's a lot to sort out here as the Falcons try to transition into being a contender.

9:Las Vegas Raiders

Cap space: $85.7 million

There will be two major moments of the Raiders' offseason, and one we can predict now. The Raiderswill draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, barring a big surprise. But what happens with defensive end Maxx Crosby is tougher to figure out. The Raiders say they want Crosby back, but could a huge offer change their mind? There are pros and cons to trading Crosby, and whichever path the Raiders choose will go a long way in shaping a roster that needs some big improvements, specifically on the offensive line. Once the Crosby situation is settled, we'll get a clear picture of what the Raiders will do in free agency.

8:New York Jets

Cap space: $74.1 million

The Jets' big push will probably happen in 2027. But this is also a hugely important offseason for their rebuild. The Jets have the second-most projected cap space in the NFL. That doesn't mean they should spend it all; just like having extra 2026 draft picks doesn't mean they should panic and use a valuable one on a quarterback they don't love. That's what next offseason will be for. But smart decisions this offseason could start to lay a foundation.

7:Kansas City Chiefs

Cap space: $-8.6 million

Kansas City has an interesting offseason coming. The Chiefs are coming off a shocking 11-loss season and also have to wonder when Patrick Mahomes will be healthy from a torn ACL. They'll be intent on rebounding right away, but there are challenges. The Chiefs have been shedding cap to get compliant, and it will be hard for them to become a big player in free agency given the cap constraints. That could hinder them from adding a key player at running back or perhaps at tight end if Travis Kelce retires. How the Chiefs approach this pivotal offseason will be fascinating to watch.

6:Tennessee Titans

Cap space: $90.4 million

No team has more projected cap space than the Titans. Not many teams have more holes to fill either. The top priority will be to surround Cam Ward with better talent, though the defense needs a ton of work as well. Presumably, new coach Robert Saleh will want reinforcements for the defense he wants to run. How the Titans allocate all that cap space will be interesting, but getting Ward help to assist in his development has to be a big part of the plan.

5:Buffalo Bills

Cap space: $-8.8 million

The Bills let it be known that they are not putting up with the status quo when they fired coach Sean McDermott following an overtime loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. Will that carry over to roster building? GM Brandon Beane has gotten a pass from ownership, but the offense around Josh Allen needs work. Will the Bills figure out a way to land a top receiver in free agency? That would be a huge help. But it won't be easy to pull off.

4:Los Angeles Chargers

Cap space: $84.9 million

The Chargers went 11-6, get two of the NFL's best offensive tackles back to the lineup from injury and also have the most projected cap space of any team that made the playoffs last season. The interior of the offensive line will need some work, and adding defensive talent following coordinator Jesse Minter's departure to Baltimore will be addressed. But the Chargers have the type of cap space to be one of this offseason's big players, and they were already in pretty good shape coming off last season.

3:Dallas Cowboys

Cap space: $-58.4 million

Jerry Jones continues to say what fans want to hear when it comes to spending in free agency. He said he is willing to"bust the budget"this offseason, but it's not like his team was "all in" two years ago like he famously claimed. So, we'll see. The one big move, albeit expected, wasputting the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens. If the Cowboys do make some moves, after some procedural moves to clear a lot of cap space, it's going to be on defense. Dak Prescott played very well last season and the Cowboys weren't even .500. That's only going to change if there are serious additions to the defense.

2:Denver Broncos

Cap space: $21 million

The top paid player on the Broncos roster each of the past two seasons, in terms of cap number, was Russell Wilson. He wasn't on the team. Having that cap anchor removed gives the Broncos some options in free agency. Sean Payton teams are always aggressive in free agency whether they have cap space or not, so expect the Broncos to get to spending now that they have their Wilson rebate. The Broncos with a star running back and maybe an impact receiver, to go with a stellar defense, could be very interesting in 2026.

1:Los Angeles Rams

Cap space: $42 million

The Rams with two first-round picks is quite intriguing. They haven't been the "(expletive) them picks" team in a couple years, but it's in their DNA. They have to know Matthew Stafford's time as an MVP level quarterback won't last forever as he's 38 years old, so could they make some big moves to get back to another Super Bowl? They might after barely missing out last season. Even if the Rams don't trade the picks, they could make important moves. Cornerback stands out as a glaring need. The Rams also have a decent amount of cap space. This is a team to watch.

byAlpha World

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 04, 2026

NFL Power Rankings, free agency edition: Ranking the most interesting teams from 1-32 heading into free agency

Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building. T...

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Russia blames Ukrainian sea drones for attacking tanker that sank in the Mediterranean

CAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in theMediterranean Seaoff the coast of Libya, authorities inthe North African countrysaid Wednesday, and Russia blamed the sinking on an attack by Ukrainian sea drones.

Russia-Ukraine-War

According to the Libyan Maritime Authority, there were "sudden explosions, followed by a massive fire" on the Arctic Metagaz on Tuesday, while the LNG carrier was about 240 kilometers (150 miles) off the coast of the Libyan city of Sirte.

The tanker, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, "completely sank" between Libya and Malta, a statement said. All 30 crew members were rescued and put on another vessel heading to the Libyan city of Benghazi, it said.

Russia's Transport Ministry said that the vessel was hit by Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment on the accusation.

Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships have reportedly come from the Libyan coast, though Kyiv officials haven't publicly confirmed those reports.

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In the past, Ukraine's military has said that it used sea drones tosink Russian vesselsin the Black Sea as part of its efforts to fight back againstRussia's full-scale invasion, which began just over four years ago.

Last October, Ukraine's state security serviceunveiled an upgraded sea drone, called the Sea Baby, which it said had a range of 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and could carry a warhead up to 2,000 kilograms (about 4,400 pounds).

The tanker was under Western sanctions, suspected to be part of Russia's shadow fleet of energy tankers trying to bypass sanctions imposed on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

The Metagaz had sailed from the northwestern Russian city of Murmansk on the Barents Sea and was bound for Port Said in Egypt, on the Mediterranean, the Libyan Maritime Authority said. Its last reported position was in the western Mediterranean off the coast of Malta, according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform.

Dasha Litvinov contributed to this report from Tallinn, Estonia.

byAlpha World

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 04, 2026

Russia blames Ukrainian sea drones for attacking tanker that sank in the Mediterranean

CAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the...

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Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, frontrunner to be Iran's supreme leader?

March 4 (Reuters) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba has emerged as frontrunner to succeed his late father as Iran's supreme leader after years spent forging close ties with the elite Revolutionary Guards and building influence in the clerical establishment.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has survived the U.S.-Israeli air war on Iran and is seen by Iran's establishment as ‌a potential successor to his father, who was killed in an airstrike on Saturday, two Iranian sources said on Wednesday.

A powerful mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba has opposed reformers seeking to ‌engage with the West as it tries to curb Iran's nuclear programme, and has long greater freedoms.

His close ties with the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) give him added leverage across Iran's political and security apparatus and he has built up influence behind the ​scenes as his father's "gatekeeper", sources familiar with the matter said.

"He has strong constituency and support within the IRGC, in particular amongst the younger radical generations," said Kasra Aarabi, head of researching the IRGC at United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based policy organisation.

"So if Mojtaba is alive, there is a high chance that he will succeed (his father)," he said, describing Mojtaba as already operating as a "mini supreme leader".

DECISION ON SUPREME LEADER EXPECTED SOON

The Assembly of Experts that will select the new leader is "close to a conclusion" and will announce its decision soon, Assembly member Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami told state TV on Wednesday, without naming the candidates.

The supreme leader ‌has the final say on matters of state, including foreign policy ⁠and Iran's nuclear programme. Western powers want to prevent Tehran developing nuclear arms. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only.

If elected, Mojtaba will face pressure from U.S. sanctions that have hammered the economy and could face opposition from Iranians who have shown they are ready to stage mass protests to press ⁠their demands for greater freedoms despite bloody crackdowns by the authorities.

Mojtaba was born in 1969 in the city of Mashhad and grew up as his father was helping lead the opposition to the Shah. As a young man, he served in the Iran-Iraq war.

Mojtaba studied under religious conservatives in the seminaries of Qom, Iran's center of Shi'ite theological learning, and has the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam.

He has never held a formal position in the ​Islamic ​Republic's government, despite being widely seen as the gatekeeper to his father. He has appeared at loyalist rallies, but ​has rarely spoken in public.

His role has long been a source of controversy ‌in Iran, with critics rejecting any hint of dynastic politics in a country that overthrew a U.S.-backed monarch in 1979.

US SANCTIONS

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, saying he represented the supreme leader in "an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position" aside from working in his father's office.

Its website said Khamenei had delegated some of his responsibilities to Mojtaba, whom it said had worked closely with the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force and the Basij, a religious militia affiliated with the Guards, "to advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives".

Mojtaba was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress ‌codes.

In 2024, a video was widely shared in which he announced the suspension of Islamic jurisprudence classes he was ​teaching at Qom, fuelling speculation about the reasons.

Mojtaba bears a strong resemblance to his father, and wears the black turban ​of a sayyed, indicating his family traces its lineage to the Prophet Mohammad.

Critics say Mojtaba ​lacks the clerical credentials to be supreme leader - Hojjatoleslam is a notch below the rank of Ayatollah, the position held by his father and Ruhollah Khomeini, ‌who founded the Islamic Republic.

But he has remained in the frame, particularly after ​another leading candidate for the role - the former President ​Ebrahim Raisi - died in a helicopter crash in 2024.

A U.S. diplomatic cable written in 2007 and published by WikiLeaks cited three Iranian sources describing Mojtaba as an avenue to reach Khamenei.

Mojtaba was widely believed to have been behind the sudden rise of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was elected president in 2005.

Mojtaba backed Ahmadinejad in 2009 when he won a second term ​in a disputed election which resulted in anti-government protests that were violently ‌suppressed by the Basij and other security forces.

Mehdi Karroubi, a moderate cleric who ran in the election, wrote a letter to Khamenei at the time objecting to what ​he alleged was Mojtaba's role in supporting Ahmadinejad. Khamenei rejected the accusation.

Mojtaba's wife, who was killed in Saturday's airstrikes, was the daughter of a prominent hardliner, the former ​parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel.

(Writing by Tom Perry and Michael Georgy and Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

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byAlpha World

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 04, 2026

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, frontrunner to be Iran's supreme leader?

March 4 (Reuters) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba has emerged as frontrunner to succeed his late father as Ira...

Read More

Spain Rebukes Trump's Threats, Refuses to Aid Iran Conflict

Pedro Sanchez delivers a speech in Madrid, Spain, on March 4, 2026. Credit - Eduardo Parra—Getty Images

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez doubled down on his refusal to become involved in the Iran conflict and rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to cut off trade with Spain as a form of punishment.

"The position of the Government of Spain can be summed up in three words," said Sánchez in a televisedaddressWednesday morning. "No to war."

Sánchez argued Europe has been in a similar situation before, referring to the negative impact of the Iraq war. "We must not repeat the mistakes of the past," he urged.

"Twenty-three years ago, another U.S. Administration dragged us into a war in the Middle East," he said. "A war which, in theory, was said at the time to be waged to eliminate Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, to bring democracy, and to guarantee global security but.. it unleashed the greatest wave of insecurity that our continent had suffered since the fall of the Berlin Wall."

In amessageshared after his address, Sánchez reiterated his stance, saying "no to violations of international law" and "no to the illusion that we can solve the world's problems with bombs."

Sánchez had the support of his colleagues, with Budget Minister María Jesús Monteroadding thatSpain "will not be vassals" to another country.

The strong response from the European nation comes after Trump posed economic threats during a press briefing at the White House Tuesday alongside visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

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Reflecting on the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, whichkilled the country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Trump heralded the success of the operation and vowed to keep moving forward. But he hit out at some European allies, including Spain, for denying the U.S. access to their military bases.

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Read More:From Iran to Venezuela, Here Are the Countries Trump Has Ordered Strikes On in His Second Term

"Spain has been terrible. I told Scott [Bessent, Treasury Secretary] to cut off all dealings with Spain," he said, threatening to impose an economic punishment. "We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain."

"Spain said we can't use their bases. We could use their bases if we wanted to, we could just fly in and use it, nobody is going to tell us not to use it, but we don't have to," Trump argued. "Spain has absolutely nothing we need, other than great people, but they don't have great leadership."

He also faulted Spain for failing tocommitto increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP under NATO targets.

Trump's criticism extended to other nations, as he accused the United Kingdom of being "uncooperative."

"We are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," he said, referencing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

While Starmer initially refused to allow Trump to use British bases to launch defensive missiles, he reversed course on Sunday evening,announcing Britain will grant accessto the U.S. military.

Contact usatletters@time.com.

byAlpha World

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 04, 2026

Spain Rebukes Trump's Threats, Refuses to Aid Iran Conflict

Pedro Sanchez delivers a speech in Madrid, Spain, on March 4, 2026. Credit - Eduardo Parra—Getty Images Spanis...

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