Iran is seeking a new leader in case the Ayatollah is killed

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s life could be at risk because Israel has said killing him is one of its highest war priorities, while President Donald Trump left the door open to a “regime change” on Sunday after explicitly stating he was an “easy target”.

With all this in mind and taking into consideration the Ayatollah is 86 years old, Iran has ramped up the search for a successor, among whom is his son, hardliner, Mojtaba Khamenei, and his predecessor’s more moderate grandson, Hassan Khomeini, The Times of Israel reported.

Also on Monday, Reuters wrote, “the clock’s ticking for senior clerics seeking a successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” A three-man committee from a top clerical body appointed by the Ayatollah himself two years ago to seek a replacement for him has now sped up its planning since Israel attacked Iran and designed a plan to kill Khamenei, which Trump asked to at least be postponed for now.

The Ayatollah is in hiding

Five insiders with knowledge of the plan to replace Khamenei told Reuters that the Ayatollah is being briefed continuously. The supreme leader has gone into hiding with his family and is being guarded by an elite force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the sources told the British news agency.

In the event Israel or the US assassinate Khamenei, Iran’s ruling establishment will be prepared to immediately replace him with a new leader who will be chosen for his devolution to the revolutionary precepts of the Islamic Republic’s late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, Reuters said based on its sources.

“At the same time, the top echelon of power is also considering which candidate might present a more moderate face to ward off foreign attacks and internal revolts,” Reuters claims a source privy to the Iranian succession committee said.

‘He is an easy target’

Apart from the two potential successors Reuters has mentioned, on Saturday, the New York Times reported that Khamenei had selected three other possible successors.

Trump reportedly vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei on the first day of the war. However, last week, ahead of the US strikes on Iran, Trump issued his threat to the supreme leader. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target.”