Tehran: Reports suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, is gravely ill, igniting a potential power struggle over succession. The New York Times reports that Khamenei’s second-oldest son, 55-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, is considered a probable successor. This development arises as Iran navigates growing tensions with Israel and contemplates retaliatory measures for recent Israeli airstrikes on its assets.
Various media reports indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei’s deteriorating health has sparked a “quiet battle” over his succession, as influential factions maneuver behind the scenes. The reports suggest that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will play a decisive role in selecting the next Supreme Leader, highlighting the military’s deep-rooted influence in Iran’s political structure.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who has led Iran since 1989 following Ruhollah Khomeini’s passing, is a pivotal figure in the nation’s theocratic structure. Speculation surrounding his successor has intensified, particularly after the sudden death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, which reportedly created a leadership gap and raised internal concerns about Iran’s future.
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Masoud Pezeshkian succeeded Ebrahim Raisi as Iran’s president in July. After initially running in the 2013 election but withdrawing and making an unsuccessful bid in 2021, Pezeshkian secured approval for his candidacy in July 2024. He won the presidency in a runoff on July 5, capturing 54.76% of the popular vote, and officially took office on July 28, 2024. At 69, he became Iran’s ninth and oldest president.
As reports suggest, Iran’s Supreme Leader is seriously ill, and his health is deteriorating. Currently, Pezeshkian is the most important leader in command within Iran’s political machinery, especially as the country is at war with Israel.
