Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has nominated three senior clerics as his potential successor amidst Israeli attacks and threats of murder. According to a New York Times report, 86 -year -old Khamenei did not include his son Mojtaba Khamenei in the list, who was first in the discussion as successor. The decision has been taken after the murder of several senior military commanders in Iran, which has highlighted the serious omission of security and intelligence system under the Iranian leadership in recent attacks by Israel.
In the report, three Iranian officials were quoted as saying that Khamenei has directed the country’s expert gathering that if he is murdered, one of these three clerics should be chosen quickly. Khamenei took this step after the Israeli attacks, which have been considered the biggest military attacks since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Khamenei is currently hidden in a bunker and has completely stopped digital communication, so that their location cannot be detected.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened Khamenei as a “modern Hitler”, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the target of Khamenei could “end” the struggle. In response, Khamenei said, “The Iranian nation cannot be bowed down in the language of threats.” He also rejected US President Donald Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender”.
Iran’s intelligence ministry has ordered senior officials not to use underground and not to use electronic equipment, as the possibility of Israeli infiltration has increased. Khamenei has also introduced alternative appointments for military commanders, as Israel has targeted many of their trusted military advisors.
According to the report, Khamenei has taken extraordinary steps to maintain the stability of the Republic of Islamic. Although the military structure is still functional, it has caused heavy damage. Khamenei believes that if he is murdered, he will die as a “martyr”.
