Mon Nov 18 13:14:02 UTC 2024: ## Khamenei’s Son Reportedly Chosen as Iran’s Next Supreme Leader
**Tehran** – Reports from Iran International, a Persian-language media outlet with ties to Iranian dissidents, claim that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been secretly chosen to succeed his ailing father. This follows weeks of speculation fueled by a New York Times report detailing a clandestine power struggle within Iran over the succession.
The report alleges that a surprise meeting of 60 members of the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader, was convened on September 26th at the behest of Ayatollah Khamenei himself. The purpose of this meeting, according to Iran International, was to formally select Mojtaba Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader. This selection reportedly occurred before Ayatollah Khamenei’s death.
Ayatollah Khamenei, 85, has reportedly been in declining health for some time. While he appeared in public on October 4th, carrying a rifle, to address the Iranian people and offer prayers for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, concerns about his fitness to lead remain.
The reported appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei carries significant implications for the region, particularly given the already volatile situation in the Middle East. Further details surrounding the selection process and the potential reaction within Iran remain unclear. The Iranian government has yet to officially comment on these reports.
First Piper 