Israel has made a stern declaration against Iran’s new supreme leader following the elimination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a missile attack. Defence Minister Israel Katz, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has issued a threat to target any successor assuming the top position in the Iranian regime. Reports suggest that Khamenei’s son is a frontrunner for the role and may have already been appointed due to pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for swift leadership transition.
The airstrikes by the US and Israeli forces, starting on Saturday, targeted the Ayatollah’s residence in Tehran, resulting in his demise amid the ruins. In response to rumors surrounding the new leadership in Iran, Katz conveyed a chilling message to the Iranian regime, warning that any leader chosen by them to continue pursuing Israel’s destruction, threatening the US and other nations, and suppressing the Iranian people, will be a marked target for assassination regardless of their identity or hiding place.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the second eldest son of Ali Khamenei, aged 56, has reportedly been selected to succeed his father after much speculation. Despite Mojtaba not being a prominent cleric or having governmental experience, he served in the Iranian armed forces during the Iran-Iraq war. Although the tradition of father-to-son succession is viewed unfavorably in Iranian politics, Mojtaba is said to wield significant influence behind the scenes, holding strong connections within the regime.
Former US President Donald Trump suggested limited options for a new supreme leader, as many potential candidates had been eliminated. The bombings over the weekend also claimed the lives of other key figures in Khamenei’s administration, including Iran’s defense minister and the Revolutionary Guard’s top commander. Additionally, casualties included the Ayatollah’s daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law.
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