Amid rising fears of an assassination amid escalating conflict with Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly named three clerics as potential successors — excluding his son Mojtaba — in what appears to be an unprecedented shift in Tehran’s leadership planning.
According to a report by The New York Times on Saturday, the 86-year-old leader, now said to be operating from a secure underground bunker, privately selected the trio following a series of high-profile Israeli assassinations targeting Iran’s top military and intelligence officials.
The revelation comes as Iran faces mounting pressure from Israeli strikes that have decimated its upper military command, prompting fears that the Islamic Republic’s leadership could be directly targeted next.
Mojtaba Omitted from Succession List
Notably absent from the list of successors is Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who for years was rumored to be groomed as his father’s heir. The decision to bypass Mojtaba marks a significant departure from speculation of a dynastic transfer of power.
“Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them,” The New York Times quoted Iranian sources close to the leadership.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed the report, adding that Khamenei has also made contingency plans for replacing key figures within Iran’s military command structure, in anticipation of further Israeli strikes.
Succession Under Fire
Under normal circumstances, Iran’s Supreme Leader is chosen by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a clerical body responsible for selecting and overseeing the Supreme Leader. However, Khamenei’s actions appear to preempt this process, possibly seeking to influence the outcome and ensure ideological continuity.
Analysts say the choice of three potential successors — rather than one — underscores both internal divisions within the regime and the urgent need for contingency plans as threats escalate.
While the names of the three clerics have not been made public, reports suggest they are loyal hardliners aligned with Khamenei’s conservative ideology.
Broader Implications and Regional Uncertainty
Khamenei’s covert preparations have sent shockwaves beyond Iran, as the region remains on edge following Israeli strikes on high-ranking Iranian and Hezbollah officials. The possibility of a leadership vacuum or succession crisis in Iran could have far-reaching consequences for Middle East stability.
“This is no longer theoretical succession planning — it’s happening under real-time threats,” a senior regional intelligence source told The New York Times. “Khamenei’s regime is acting on the assumption that a decapitation strike could happen any moment.”
A Timeline of Escalation
The urgency behind Khamenei’s decisions stems from a spate of Israeli operations since early June 2025. Notably, top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, including General Hossein Salami and Gholam Ali Rashid, were reportedly killed. A single Israeli airstrike on June 13 alone was said to have eliminated several senior nuclear scientists and military officials.
- “General Hossein Salami has been killed in an Israeli strike.” — Reuters, June 17, 2025
- “At least 22 Mossad informants arrested after coordinated hits on IRGC targets.” — Tasnim News, June 18, 2025
End of Dynastic Ambitions
Mojtaba Khamenei’s exclusion signals a deliberate break from perceived efforts to establish a hereditary line of succession. Experts suggest the move is intended to avoid the appearance of monarchy-like rule and to solidify clerical — not familial — continuity.
- “Mojtaba’s exclusion is a message: no dynasty here.” — Times of India, June 21, 2025
- “The three unnamed clerics reflect hardline continuity, not reformist compromise.” — New York Post, June 21, 2025
What Lies Ahead
With succession planning now unfolding amid war, Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts could be sidelined by Khamenei’s preemptive decisions. Observers warn that his personal choices may guide the post-Khamenei era — even after his death.
- “The Assembly of Experts may still have formal power, but Khamenei’s choices could shape succession beyond the grave.” — Financial Times, June 20, 2025
- “The Islamic Republic is preparing for a transition in the shadow of war.” — Punch Newspaper, June 21, 2025
For now, Tehran appears focused on preserving its leadership and ideological foundation — bracing for a transition that may unfold while missiles still fly.
