Iran Assembly Secretly Picks Khamenei's Successor Amid IRGC Backing & Israel Threats

Mojtaba Khamenei's Rise

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late supreme leader, is expected to play a significant role in this process and has garnered support from influential commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been active in launching missiles and drones throughout the region in recent days.

Unlike many others in Iran's leadership, Mojtaba has taken a more understated approach over the years, working within his father's office and building connections within the security establishment, particularly among the elite IRGC. Born in 1969 in the holy city of Mashhad, he embodies the interplay of security and clerical power that defines the Islamic Republic. 

Top Contenders Listed

Potential successors to Ali Khamenei include Mojtaba himself, along with his close aides Asghar Hijazi, Ali Larijani, Sadiq Larijani, Alireza Arafi, Mohammad-Mahdi Mirbagheri, and Mohsen Araki. Another notable contender is Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. 

Israel Warns of Strikes on New Leader

In the backdrop of these developments, Israel has issued a warning that it will target anyone chosen to replace Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a coordinated US-Israeli strike on the first day of the war with Iran.
Additionally, the Israeli military has communicated in Farsi on social media, stating that it would pursue those involved in the appointment of Khamenei's successor, referring specifically to the clerical body tasked with this responsibility. 

The IDF’s Farsi account said, “After neutralizing the tyrant Khamenei, the terrorist regime of Iran is attempting to rebuild itself and select a new leader. Iran's Assembly of Experts, which has not convened for decades, will soon gather in the city of Qom. We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor.”