You ever get the impression that you’re not being told the whole story?
“Who are Khamenei’s likely successors?,” by Morad Veisi, Iran International, November 18, 2024:
On November 15, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced that the Assembly has selected three individuals as potential successors to Ali Khamenei in order of priority. However, the names of these candidates remain confidential.
This announcement by Abolhassan Mahdavi, the temporary Friday prayer leader in Isfahan, comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic and concerns over the possibility of Khamenei being assassinated by Israel. It is not the first time that a senior cleric makes a similar statement, but the timing on this occasion provokes more questions.
Concerns over Khamenei’s assassination
Even before the recent escalation between Israel and the Islamic Republic, discussions about Khamenei’s succession were already ongoing. These concerns have now intensified. In recent meetings with the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the next Supreme Leader, Khamenei urged members to be ready to swiftly choose a successor if needed. Analysts interpret these remarks as stemming from his fear of an Israeli assassination rather than concerns about natural causes.
During Friday prayers, Mahdavi emphasized that Khamenei is physically healthy, showing no signs of illness. This reinforced the view that what the establishment is most concerned about is external threats.
A “Martyrdom” atmosphere in recent Assembly meeting
Assembly member Heydari Kashani described Khamenei’s recent meeting with the Assembly of Experts as taking place in an atmosphere of “martyrdom.” According to Kashani, participants wept as Khamenei emphasized the need for the Assembly to quickly select a new leader in his absence. This underscores concerns about potential unrest and the heightened risk of the regime’s collapse without Khamenei….
somehistory says
The “participants wept”?
There are many reasons for someone to cry (weep). Too many fresh onions; a release of some kind of gas; sadness or delirious, uncontrollable happiness.
And if he’s all that “healthy,”‘ then why the need to say it? He should sleep the next few nights in the “guest house.”
And in what are these iranians “expert”? Keeping the three names “confidential,” prevents Israel from targeting them….except that Israel knows how to find answers to questions they may have about the “successor.”
‘Excuse me, sir, but make sure my name is not on your list’ says one of the possible replacements. Or perhaps, all three are shaking in their boots..
Isabella Hale says
How interesting. He is old. I mean I am over 65 and it seems like he has been around since I was a kid.. I looked up WHICH KHOMENI you were talking about since apparently the Islamic leaders have very similar names..and he is 85 years old.. who knows actually who runs that govt? Iranian women and children will not shedding any tears.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
The first of them – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei – was in power from 1979 upto his death in 1989
His successor – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – has been the leader ever since. He’s currently 85. Unlike Biden, he very much runs that government, since even Iranian presidents have had to get his approval to greenlight any major proposals
I’d be rather surprised if this regime survives him for very long
gravenimage says
Khameni is different from the more famous–infamous?–Ayatollah Khomeini, who died in 1989. But they have not been much different, so many have not even noticed the change.
rick says
I seem to recall he was near death due to cancer a few years ago? Did he find a good Jewish doctor team to cure him like most Palestinian terrorists do? Israel may have killed the leader of Hamas but the daughter of Ismail Haniyeh, the formerly undisputed leader of Hamas, was admitted to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, after a routine operation went wrong and she required an emergency treatment. Also Sinwar brain cancer was cured by an Israeli doctor while he was a prisoner. Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ younger brother, Abu Louai, was recently treated in Assuta Medical Center, a private hospital in Tel Aviv. Abu Louai is 76 years old and has cancer. He lives in Qatar. So he had to be secretly brought to Israel for treatment. Arafat made a mistake late in life. He helicoptered out of Israel to Paris to treat his AIDs and in Paris he died. Oh well, live and learn or die and learn.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
The Israelis should toss in a complimentary sex-change operation on every Pali patient that they get – whether its the offspring of Haniyeh or Mashal or anyone else. Sure, cure them of their actual disease, but also make them trans. That way, their aspirations for the 72 virgins can get dampened a tad
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Khamenei had something like 35 years to become a figure that overshadowed even his predecessor, Khomenei. Whenever he croaks, there won’t be enough time for his successor to have anywhere near the clout that he has. What we saw in the early 2010s – the Arab Springs – is likely to come to Iran, albeit in a de-islamizing wave, unlike the islamizing wave that came w/ the Arab Spring
At that point, the world’s #1 sponsor of jihad and dawa will be Turkey, given that Qatar too seems to want to take a back seat to all this
Som says
Apprehension may soon become reality. Iran and many Iranians are waiting for the confirmation. Iran needs the change. Change for better
gravenimage says
I hope so. But the last time the Ayatollah died–35 years ago–there was not much of a change in Iran. Sadly I doubt there will be this time, either.
gravenimage says
Iranian spokesman insists Khamenei is healthy, but announces three potential successors
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It’s not “martyrdom” if an 85-year-old is dying of natural causes.
As for the potential successors, I imagine it’s pretty much “meet the new boss; same as the old boss”.