Ali Khamenei is reportedly unwell, and Iran may have quietly chosen his successor as the next supreme leader.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reportedly in critical health, sparking concerns of a succession struggle. Recent reports suggest that his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been selected to lead the Shia Islamic nation as tensions with Israel continue to rise.
Amid escalating tensions with Israel, Iran is facing a domestic crisis as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s health is reportedly in serious decline. His second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been selected to lead the Shia Islamic nation, with reports suggesting he could assume leadership even before his father’s death. This potential leadership shift could have significant implications for Iran and the broader situation in West Asia.
According to Iran International, a Persian-language outlet linked to Iranian dissidents, Mojtaba Khamenei has been secretly selected as Iran’s next supreme leader. This report was cited by Ynet News.
The report from Iran International follows a recent piece by The New York Times that revealed a covert struggle in Iran over who will succeed Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Khamenei, now 85, has been experiencing declining health for some time.
Who is expected to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader?
According to a report by Ynet News, citing Iran International, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already chosen his successor—his son Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba, the Supreme Leader’s second son, was reportedly selected during a secret meeting of the Assembly of Experts on September 26.
In September, Ayatollah Khamenei held an extraordinary meeting with 60 members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts. They were unexpectedly directed to make an immediate decision regarding the succession. Although the meeting was kept highly confidential, the members were reportedly not informed in advance about the purpose of the gathering, according to the report.
There was some opposition to both the process and the selection of the successor, but the Assembly of Experts was pressured by the Supreme Leader and his aides to choose Mojtaba Khamenei. After persistent insistence, which reportedly included threats, a unanimous decision was eventually reached, according to the report.
