Just days after Israel threatened to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian sources confirmed that Khamenei had selected three senior Iranian leaders to succeed him.
This comes as Israel threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with a heavy price, and its Defense Minister, Israel Katz, threatened that Khamenei "must not be spared." Three informed Iranian officials revealed the extreme precautions surrounding the Supreme Leader.
Three Leaders to Succeed Khamenei
The officials explained that Khamenei now mostly communicates with his commanders through a trusted aide, avoiding telephones, "for fear of assassination."
Read also:
Urgent: 30 Iranian Requests Target Israel Major Destruction in Haifa
They also explained that the Iranian Supreme Leader, holed up in an underground bunker, has selected a group of replacements along the military chain of command in anticipation of the deaths of more of his important aides, according to the New York Times.
In addition, officials added that Khamenei has selected three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him in the event of his death.
They added that the Supreme Leader is aware that Israel or the United States might attempt to assassinate him. Given this possibility, he took the unusual decision to task the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader, with quickly selecting his successor from among the three names he had proposed.
The process of appointing a new Supreme Leader in Iran typically takes months, with clerics choosing names from their own lists.
A Quick Transition of Power in Iran
However, with the country at war, officials said Khamenei "wants to ensure a quick and orderly transition to preserve his legacy and maintain order."
Read also:
Iran: Israel is faltering and our strikes will continue
However, they emphasized that Mojtaba, Ali Khamenei's son, is not among the candidates to succeed the Supreme Leader.
Former President Ebrahim Raisi was considered a leading candidate before his death in a helicopter crash in 2024.
In addition, officials indicated that the country's leadership is preoccupied with three main concerns: an assassination attempt on Khamenei, the United States' entry into the war, and more destructive attacks on vital infrastructure, such as power plants, oil and gas refineries, and dams.
While Iran has threatened to retaliate by attacking American targets in the region, this would only lead to a wider, and potentially more destructive, conflict between Tehran and its adversaries.
Read also:
When Aging Begin? A Medical Test Predicts Chronological Age