Israeli media says Assembly of Experts may soon announce succession; Tehran yet to confirm development amid escalating Middle East conflict.

Jerusalem/Tehran: Israeli media reports on Wednesday claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s has been chosen as his successor and could soon be formally announced as Iran’s next supreme leader.

According to the Israeli news outlet Ynet, senior Israeli officials indicated that Iran’s Assembly of Experts is expected to formally declare Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor in the coming hours. However, there has been no independent confirmation from Iran’s state media or official government sources regarding the development.

Mojtaba Emerged as Leading Contender: Report

Earlier reports by The New York Times had suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, had emerged as a leading candidate to assume the powerful position of Supreme Leader. He is the second-oldest son of Ali Khamenei and is believed to have played a significant role in managing his father’s office for years.

The report claimed that Iran’s Assembly of Experts allegedly selected Mojtaba under pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which holds enormous influence in the country’s political and security structure.

Mojtaba is widely believed to maintain close ties with senior commanders of the IRGC and the elite Quds Force, strengthening his influence within Iran’s ruling establishment.

Known for Hardline Views, Sanctioned by the US

Israeli media described Mojtaba Khamenei as holding even harder-line views than his father. They accused him of playing a key role in the crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran.

In November 2019, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, alleging that he represented the Supreme Leader in official capacities despite never being elected or formally appointed to a government role.

US authorities also alleged that he worked closely with the IRGC’s Quds Force and the Basij militia to advance Iran’s regional policies and suppress domestic dissent.

Reports have also claimed that Mojtaba has access to luxury properties in London and financial accounts in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Tensions Escalate as Conflict Enters Fourth Day

The development comes amid a rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, Tehran has yet to confirm the claim officially.

Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region.

Meanwhile, US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper warned that military operations against Iran would continue until strategic objectives were achieved. “Our military objectives are crystal clear… we will absolutely achieve them,” Cooper said, indicating that the conflict could intensify further in the coming days.