Khamenei Names Successors From His Bunker, But Snubs His Own Son
Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly selected three clerics as potential successors amid fears of assassination during the ongoing war with Israel, notably excluding his influential son, Mojtaba. This move raises questions about Iran’s succession strategy and the regime’s efforts to maintain stability.
Reports have emerged that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, has named three senior clerics as potential successors should he be killed in the ongoing conflict with Israel, which began on June 13. Operating from a secure bunker in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, Khamenei has limited communication to a trusted aide due to assassination threats from Israel, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stating, “Khamenei cannot continue to exist,” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinting at targeting him. Notably, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, long considered a frontrunner, was excluded from the list, raising questions about Iran’s succession strategy.
The decision, communicated to the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting Iran’s next Supreme Leader, reflects Khamenei’s intent to ensure regime continuity amidst heightened tensions. “Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them,” according to Iranian officials, signaling a shift from expectations of a dynastic handover. Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has wielded significant influence behind the scenes, coordinating between his father’s office and state institutions like the IRGC and intelligence agencies. His exclusion may stem from fears that naming him could make him a target for Israel, which has demonstrated precise intelligence capabilities, as seen in the assassinations of key IRGC figures like Hossein Salami and Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Iran’s leadership may have learned from Hezbollah’s experience, where Israel swiftly eliminated Hassan Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, prompting the appointment of the less threatening Naim Qassem. “Mojtaba’s exclusion is a message: no dynasty here,” an analyst noted, suggesting Iran is avoiding a hereditary succession that could be exploited as nepotism. Mojtaba’s hardline stance, including his belief that controlling Mecca and Jerusalem would hasten the Mahdi’s arrival, aligns with his father’s ideology but could escalate tensions if he assumes power.