ehran, June 2025 — In an extraordinary and highly sensitive move, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shortlisted three senior religious figures as potential successors, excluding his own son, Mojtaba Khamenei, from the list.
According to a report published by The New York Times, citing senior Iranian officials, the 85-year-old leader made the decision as a precautionary measure in case of a potential assassination attempt by Israel or the United States.
“He knows very well that he’s a top target,” said one official familiar with the matter. “This is about preserving continuity and preventing chaos.”
The names of the three candidates have not been made public, but they have reportedly been submitted to the powerful clerical body Assembly of Experts, which holds the constitutional authority to elect the next Supreme Leader.
⏳ Fast-Track Succession Amid War
Normally, Iran’s Supreme Leader succession process can take months, involving secret deliberations among senior clerics. However, given the ongoing war and geopolitical instability, Khamenei has urged an expedited, organized transition to maintain internal stability and strategic control.
“We are at war. The process must be swift, orderly, and unquestionable,” said a source close to Iran’s leadership.
The move is seen as unprecedented in Iran’s modern political history — not only for its transparency but also for the conscious exclusion of his own son, Mojtaba, despite years of speculation about his grooming for leadership.
Observers say this could be an effort by Khamenei to avoid accusations of dynastic succession and maintain religious legitimacy and political unity during a critical moment.
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