Amid heightened tensions and ongoing conflict with Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has begun appointing replacements for senior military commanders killed in Israeli strikes. Notably, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been excluded from the list of possible successors, despite past reports suggesting he was being groomed for the role.
According to a report by The New York Times, which cited three Iranian officials familiar with the situation, Ayatollah Khamenei, currently taking shelter in a secure bunker, has named three clerics as potential successors to his leadership. These developments come as concerns rise over possible assassination attempts by Israel or the United States.
The 86-year-old leader is reportedly aware of the risks. According to Iranian officials, he believes such an act would be considered martyrdom.
In response to these threats, Khamenei has taken the unusual step of instructing the Assembly of Experts — the religious body responsible for selecting Iran’s next Supreme Leader — to expedite the succession process. Typically, the process involves months of internal deliberations and a wide range of candidates. However, officials told NYT that due to the ongoing war, Khamenei aims to ensure a smooth and swift transition to protect the Islamic Republic and preserve his legacy.
“The top priority is the preservation of the state,” NYT quoted Vali Nasr, a leading Iran expert and professor at Johns Hopkins University, as saying. “It is all calculative and pragmatic,” Nasr added.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel’s military goal remains to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. He added:
“We may create the conditions” to help change the government.
When asked whether this includes targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Netanyahu said:
“No one is immune.”
Israel-Iran War Enters Second Week
As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week, renewed Israeli strikes have targeted an Iranian nuclear research facility near Isfahan.
Diplomatic talks in Geneva on Friday between European foreign ministers and Iran’s top diplomat ended without resolution. While US President Donald Trump continues to deliberate on potential military involvement, European officials still hold out hope for further negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed willingness for continued dialogue but issued a firm condition:
Tehran wasn’t interested in negotiating while Israel continued attacking.