The 85-year-old Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is in a coma and his health is extremely serious, which is why there is speculation about his abdication.
According to opposition media, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei secretly chose his successor in Tehran at the end of September, and it is speculated that he had already abdicated before his death.
Khamenei decided to make this decision in order to prevent a political crisis that could hit the country if the political power experienced an unplanned transition, and officials, according to media reports, chose a successor.
Allegedly, 60 members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts met in secret on September 26 to agree to Khamenei’s request. They were ordered to make a decision on the succession immediately and in complete confidentiality.
All well-informed sources say that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will take over the main role while his father is still alive.
Over the past two years, Mojtaba Khamenei has allegedly gained significant influence within the Iranian regime. Although he is rarely seen in public, he is known for his role in suppressing post-election protests in 2009. In 2021, he received the title of Ayatollah, fulfilling the constitutional requirement to serve as Supreme Leader.
Ali Khamenei was Iran’s president when he took over as supreme leader in 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
On the other hand, his son Mojtaba took on an increasingly important role in making state decisions, which was particularly significant during the selection of former president Ebrahim Raisi.
