As Iran plans potential retaliation against Israel, reports indicate that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, age 85, is facing serious health concerns, with speculation mounting about succession plans. According to The New York Times, Khamenei’s declining health could lead to his second-oldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei, taking his place. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is also expected to play a role in determining Khamenei’s successor.
These succession concerns have intensified following the recent death of Iran’s radical President Ebrahim Raisi, who, alongside the foreign minister, died in a helicopter crash in May. Khamenei has served as Supreme Leader since 1989, following the death of his predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini.
The report comes amid heightened Israel-Iran tensions, with Israel conducting a recent “precision strike” on Iranian military sites, an operation it says was in response to Iran’s missile attack on October 1. Iran has stated that it does not wish to escalate the conflict further but will respond to any perceived Israeli aggression. Israeli forces also reportedly struck targets in Iraq and Syria during the recent assault.
In a symbolic move, Khamenei recently opened a Hebrew-language account on X, his first post reading, “In the name of Allah the merciful and compassionate.” This step, following Israel’s attack, is seen as a signal of Iran’s stance.
US President Joe Biden expressed hopes that Israel’s actions would bring an end to the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that Israeli forces targeted only military locations. Biden’s administration is also working to revitalize ceasefire talks in Gaza as he approaches the end of his term.
