Last Updated:
Officials clarified that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is not among the senior clerics shortlisted to succeed him, contradicting earlier reports suggesting him to be the replacement
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | AFP Image
Amid assassination threats from Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said to be sheltering in a bunker, has reportedly named three senior clerics as potential successors in the event of his death during the ongoing conflict.
According to a report by The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, Khamenei has also begun picking replacements for military commanders who were eliminated in Israeli strikes.
Notably, officials clarified that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is not among the senior clerics shortlisted to succeed him, contradicting earlier reports that suggested he was being groomed for the leadership role.
Iranian officials claimed that Khamenei is aware of the possibility of being assassinated by Israel or the United States, and added that he would regard such a death as martyrdom.
Considering all the threats, Khamenei took the unusual step of instructing the Assembly of Experts — the clerical body responsible for appointing Iran’s next supreme leader — to move quickly and select a successor from the three candidates he has personally recommended.
Amid growing speculations around the appointment of the new Supreme Leader, NYT quoted Vali Nasr, a leading Iran expert and professor at Johns Hopkins University, as saying that the top priority currently is the “preservation” of the state.
Usually, the process of appointing a new supreme leader takes a month or so, with intense discussion on probable candidates. However, with the country now in the midst of war, officials said that Khamenei wants a rapid transition to secure the state and his legacy.
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be…Read More
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be… Read More
- First Published:
