By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Printed: 23 Jun 2025 • 23:47
• 2 minutes learn
Iran’s Supreme Chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, throughout a supposed nuclear plant inspection | Credit: Shutterstock
Iran’s Supreme Chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s life could possibly be in danger as a result of Israel has stated killing him is certainly one of its highest battle priorities, whereas President Donald Trump left the door open to a “regime change” on Sunday after explicitly stating he was an “simple goal”.
With all this in thoughts and considering the Ayatollah is 86 years outdated, Iran has ramped up the seek for a successor, amongst whom is his son, hardliner, Mojtaba Khamenei, and his predecessor’s extra average grandson, Hassan Khomeini, The Instances of Israel reported.
Additionally on Monday, Reuters wrote, “the clock’s ticking for senior clerics in search of a successor to Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” A 3-man committee from a prime clerical physique appointed by the Ayatollah himself two years in the past to hunt a substitute for him has now sped up its planning since Israel attacked Iran and designed a plan to kill Khamenei, which Trump requested to at the very least be postponed for now.
The Ayatollah is in hiding
5 insiders with information of the plan to exchange Khamenei advised Reuters that the Ayatollah is being briefed constantly. The supreme chief has gone into hiding together with his household and is being guarded by an elite pressure of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the sources advised the British information company.
Within the occasion Israel or the US assassinate Khamenei, Iran’s ruling institution will likely be ready to instantly substitute him with a brand new chief who will likely be chosen for his devolution to the revolutionary precepts of the Islamic Republic’s late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, Reuters stated based mostly on its sources.
“On the similar time, the highest echelon of energy can also be contemplating which candidate may current a extra average face to chase away international assaults and inside revolts,” Reuters claims a supply aware about the Iranian succession committee stated.
‘He’s a straightforward goal’
Aside from the 2 potential successors Reuters has talked about, on Saturday, the New York Instances reported that Khamenei had chosen three different potential successors.
Trump reportedly vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei on the primary day of the battle. Nevertheless, final week, forward of the US strikes on Iran, Trump issued his menace to the supreme chief. “We all know precisely the place the so-called ‘Supreme Chief’ is hiding. He’s a straightforward goal.”