The frontrunners emerge as Iranian officials discuss Khamenei’s possible successors: report
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Several frontrunners emerge to succeed the Iranian supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei While the 86-year-old man hid for Israel and the joint military campaign of the United States against the Islamic Republic, according to a report.
A committee of three men appointed by Khamenei to identify his successor has increased his activity in recent days after repeated waves of air strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program, Reuters reported, citing five sources with knowledge of discussions.
Two names going up at the top of the list are Mojtaba Khamenei – the 56 -year -old son of Ayatollah, which was sanctioned by the Department of the American Treasury in 2019 – and Hassan Khomeini, the 53 -year -old grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, according to sources.
“Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the supreme chief, is appointed … for having represented the supreme chief officially despite his elected official or appointed to a government position outside work at the office of his father,” said the Treasury Department in 2019 while sanctioning him.
Hassan Khomeini, on the left, and Mojtaba Khamenei, on the right, would have emerged as advantages to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Chef. (Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images | Morteza Nikoubazl / Nurphoto via Getty Images)
“The supreme chief has delegated part of his responsibilities as leadership towards Mojtaba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the ISLIC Revolution (Basij) (IRGC-QF) commander as well as the resistance force Basij (Basij) to advance the ministry of his father.
Mojtaba Khamenei is currently teaching theology in a religious seminar in Qom and is closely aligned with the hard opinions of his father, Reuters reported, Quoting sources.
Khomein, who is more reformist and links to a faction which is favorable to the relaxation of social and political restrictions in Iran, guarantees respect because of his line, according to Reuters.
In 2024, Khomeini warned against a “crisis in the increase in popular dissatisfaction” among Iranians due to poverty, Reuters also reported.
This is what Iran Post-Ayatollah might look like if war with Israel led to the fall of the regime
Iranian supreme chief Ali Khamenei addresses the Nation on television from Iranian state television in Tehran, Iran, June 18, 2025. (Office of the Supreme Chief of Iran / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images)
The sources would have declared that no decision had yet been made, more candidates could emerge and that the supreme chief, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who is regularly up to date on the talks – would have the last word.
According to the New York Times, Khamenei is taking hold right now and has suspended all electronic communications with its commanders.
This satellite photo of Planet Labs PBC shows the Iran underground nuclear enrichment site in Fordow after American air strikes targeting the installation on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
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He only relays the ordinances through confidence help to protect his location in the midst of assassination problems.
Danielle Wallace and Beth Bailey from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
