Amid a confrontation with Israel, Iran has a crisis at home. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is said to be seriously ill, and his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been chosen to lead the Shiite Muslim nation. According to reports, Mojtaba could take power before his father’s death. This could have consequences for Iran, given the situation in West Asia.

Iran International reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was secretly chosen to lead Iran as supreme leader. The report by Iran International, a Persian-language media outlet with links to Iranian rebels, was cited by Ynet News.

Iran International’s report comes just weeks after The New York Times reported on a secret battle in Iran to succeed Ali Khamenei as supreme leader.

Ali Khamenei is 85 years old and his health has been deteriorating for some time.

He appeared in public on October 4, with a rifle at his side, to address Iranians and lead prayers for Hasan Nasrallah, Hezbollah chief, who was killed in an attack on Israel.

In its report, Iran International claimed that a surprise meeting was convened on September 26 with the 60 members of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, on the orders of Ali Khamenei.

The members of the General Assembly were asked to immediately decide on his successor.

“Despite initial opposition to both the decision and the process, the Assembly ultimately reached a unanimous agreement to appoint Mojtaba as successor, after insistence from the leader and his representatives, which reportedly included direct threats,” YNet News reported, quoting from the Persian media. .

According to the reports, it was the threats that caused the meeting and its outcome to remain hidden for five weeks.

WHY THE SUCCESSION OF IRAN’S LEADERSHIP MAY BE FACED WITH UNCERTAINTY AND STRUGGLE

After the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, there was relatively little resistance to the succession process. There were five factors behind it.

The presence of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was able to unite center, right and left officials. According to Iran International, he was the kingmaker.

After deciding that Khamenei would rise, there was little resistance.

But Khamenei’s successor would face a more difficult succession. There is currently no one like Rafsanjani in the power center and many close to Khamenei’s power center even hate the Iranian people.

Khamenei was groomed as Khomeini’s successor and served as president before becoming Iran’s supreme leader.

While Ebrahim Raisi was prepared for the job, his death in a helicopter crash in Azerbaijan on May 19, 2024 further complicated the issue of succession in Iran.

President Donald Trump’s 2020 ouster of Qasem Soleimani also played this role, which had the potential of a king.

Senior officials have been isolated and no centers of power have emerged.

Both political and social movements are also active, such as protests after Mahasa Amini was murdered in custody.

WHO IS MOJTABA KHAMENEI

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was born in 1969 in Mashhad in northeastern Iran. He pursued theology, under the wings of his father and other leading scholars. Now he is a cleric and teaches theology at the Qom Seminary.