Eric Patrick
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly named three senior clerics as potential successors in the event of his assassination.
According to multiple reports, the unprecedented move comes as the 86-year-old leader is said to be operating from a fortified bunker, following a series of Israeli strikes that have targeted high-ranking Iranian officials.
Citing senior Iranian sources, reports indicated that Khamenei privately selected the three candidates in recent weeks as fears grow that Israel may target the country’s top leadership.
The decision is seen as an urgent effort to secure a succession plan in case of a sudden power vacuum.
Notably absent from the list is Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has long been rumoured as his likely heir.
His exclusion signals a dramatic departure from previous speculation that a dynastic transition was being orchestrated behind the scenes.
“This is a significant shift,” popular US media The New York Times noted, quoting sources close to Iran’s leadership.
“Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them.”
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The Jerusalem Post also confirmed the report, adding that Khamenei has gone as far as to appoint replacements for key figures in his military command, anticipating further Israeli operations that could target his inner circle.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical council.
However, Khamenei’s actions suggest a clear attempt to influence or pre-empt the formal selection process, possibly to avoid instability or infighting within the regime.
Analysts say naming three successors instead of one points to the absence of consensus among Iran’s political elite and highlights the regime’s urgent need to prepare for leadership continuity in a time of crisis.
While the identities of the three clerics have not been disclosed, sources suggest they are trusted hardliners aligned with Khamenei’s ideological vision and committed to preserving the regime’s core principles.