Mojtaba Khamenei. Photo: antikor.
The son of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was elected as his father’s successor at a secret meeting of the Council of Experts on 26 September, which took place under the personal instructions of the seriously ill Ali Khamenei, TimeUkraineIsrael reports, citing Israel’s Channel 7.
A secret decision and mixed feelings
The meeting of the Council of Experts was held in strict secrecy: all sixty members were summoned without prior notice and were explicitly instructed to keep the discussions in complete secrecy. Despite the unanimous decision, several members of the Council expressed concerns about the procedural and legitimacy of the appointment, but pressure from the Supreme Leader and his representatives removed any objections.
According to the report, Ali Khamenei intends to hand over the leadership of the Mojtaba during his lifetime. In this way, he hopes to use his own authority to ensure a smooth transition, avoiding internal conflicts that may arise after his death.
Preparing a successor and potential challenges
Over the past two years, Khamenei has begun to actively involve his son in making important state decisions, gradually preparing him for the role of Supreme Leader. Although he has not held an official position, Mojtaba has gained access to key state processes, which may be an additional advantage during the transition.
However, this decision raises many doubts and concerns. Iran is experiencing serious economic and social crises, and the transfer of power to the Khamenei family could cause even more internal tension and discontent. Analysts believe that supporting this decision within the country will be a difficult task, especially as Iranians have repeatedly expressed their resentment of the authoritarian regime and demanded democratic change.
Continuity and possible protest
Given the risks associated with possible mass protests, the current Supreme Leader is keen to ensure that the Council of Experts supports him and that information about the transfer of power does not leak. However, if the public learns of this decision, there is a high probability of a new wave of protests and political destabilisation.
The answer to the question of whether the Khamenei family will be able to retain power or, on the contrary, will trigger another round of public resistance will remain in the spotlight. Iran will have to go through a difficult path, on which the preservation of the authoritarian system may prove to be much more difficult than ever.
