Iran’s Succession Race Intensifies: Mojtaba Khamenei and Hassan Khomeini Emerge as Frontrunners

As Iran faces intense military pressure from Israel and the United States, whispers of succession swirl around Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now 86 and reportedly in hiding. A secretive three-man committee, handpicked by Khamenei, has intensified its search for his successor amid relentless airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, sources reveal.

Two figures stand out in this high-stakes race: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s 56-year-old son, and Hassan Khomeini, the 53-year-old grandson of Islamic Revolution founder Ruhollah Khomeini. Mojtaba, a hardliner sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019 for advancing his father’s agenda, teaches theology in Qom and mirrors Ali Khamenei’s rigid ideology. Meanwhile, Khomeini, a reformist, pushes for easing Iran’s social and political restrictions, earning respect for his lineage but raising eyebrows with warnings of growing public discontent over poverty.

With Khamenei reportedly bunkered down, communicating only through a trusted aide to evade assassination risks, the succession talks remain fluid. No final decision has been made, and more candidates could emerge, but the Supreme Leader holds the ultimate veto.

This unfolding drama underscores Iran’s precarious moment—caught between external attacks and internal tensions, its future leadership hangs in the balance.