Elnaaz Norouzi speaks out ahead of Mojtaba’s appointment as supreme leader

Tehran-born Iranian actor Elnaaz Norouzi, who holds German citizenship, expressed her thoughts on Iran’s political situation days before Mojtaba Khamenei was named the country’s new Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026.

Speaking to NDTV in an exclusive interview, Norouzi highlighted the long history of political repression in Iran. Reacting to reports about Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taking power, she said it was “nothing new” for leaders to be imposed on Iranians without public choice.

“Just like the past 47 years, people coming to power were never chosen by the Iranian people. The same happened with Ali Khamenei; now his son is stepping in. We have no say in this,” she told NDTV.

Norouzi emphasized the Iranian people’s desire for democracy and the right to vote. “For 47 years, Iranians have been asking to choose their leaders. In 2009, millions protested chanting ‘Where is our vote?’ Many lost their lives. People realised that the leaders in office were not the ones they had chosen,” she said.

The actor, known for works including ‘Sacred Games’, ‘Kandahar’, and ‘Made in Heaven’, urged her fellow Iranians to stay resilient. “Stay strong. Stay in your homes. Hope for better days. Protests often lead to brutal crackdowns, leaving civilians without jobs, security, or even basic necessities,” she said.

She also called for international attention and support, saying, “We are empty-handed. Right now, the world only seems to notice because of the war.”

Reflecting on her personal connection to Iran’s struggles, Norouzi noted that many Iranians, including her family, have lived through decades of unrest. “My parents realised during the 1979 revolution that life was becoming unbearable. Today, over five million Iranians live abroad because they couldn’t build a safe life at home. Ninety million people can’t leave Iran—they need to get their country back,” she said.

Norouzi’s remarks underline the frustration of many Iranians as Mojtaba Khamenei takes leadership in a nation long yearning for the right to choose its own path.