Khamenei has declared that Iran “isn’t a nation that surrenders”:
Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2025
Those very words from Khamenei are reflected in the regime’s move to survive, as it now seeks likely candidates to succeed Khamenei. “Iranian officials consider removing Ali Khamenei in plot to replace supreme leader – report,” Jerusalem Post, June 22, 2025:
Iranian officials are considering removing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the Supreme Leader of Iran after the country endured airstrikes by Israel and the United States, two sources involved in the discussions told The Atlantic in a report published on Sunday.
The plot to replace the supreme leader is being planned by a group of businessmen, military and political figures, and relatives and high-ranking clerics, the report said.
“Ours is just one idea,” a source told The Atlantic. “Tehran is now full of such plots. They are also talking to Europeans about the future of Iran. Everybody knows Khamenei’s days are numbered. Even if he stays in office, he won’t have actual power.”…
Discussion about Khamenei’s ill health, ability to rule and whom his successor would be were happening well before the recent escalation, pointing to a likely longstanding determination by the regime to install a successor. A few days ago, The Atlantic reported about an inside plot to remove Khamenei as the Supreme Leader after the debilitating airstrikes by Israel and the US. The plotters, comprised of businessmen, military and political figures, and high-ranking clerics “agreed that a leadership committee consisting of a few high-ranking officials would take over running the country and negotiate a deal with the United States to stop the Israeli attacks.” “Frontrunners emerge as Iranian officials discuss possible successors to Khamenei: report,” by Greg Norman, Fox News, June 23, 2025:
Multiple frontrunners are emerging to succeed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the 86-year-old has gone into hiding during Israel and the United States’ joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic, a report said.
A three-man committee appointed by Khamenei to identify his successor has ramped up its activity in recent days following repeated waves of airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program, Reuters reported, citing five sources with knowledge of the discussions.
Two names rising to the top of the list are Mojtaba Khamenei – the ayatollah’s 56-year-old son who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2019 – and Hassan Khomeini, the 53-year-old grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, according to the sources…..
As a regime now plunged into chaos, the specter of the 1979 Revolution is revisiting Iran. On one side is Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who says that a transition plan is in place if Khamenei falls; and on the other side are the mullahs and their loyalists seeking to rescue the Shia regime from falling.
At the top of the list are two offspring of the two supreme leaders: Ayatollah Khamenei’s 56-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hassan Khomeini, the 53-year-old grandson of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Israel has made it clear that the aim of the strikes was not regime change, but to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat. As it stands, regime change is likely, but in what direction is a mystery. While dissidents are fighting inside and outside of Iran in hopes of Pahlavi’s rise in a new dawn for Iran, the mullahs are fighting back to rescue their dreams of a globally dominant Shia state.
Keys says
For those who are unaware, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over the years he was in power, enriched himself and his family with tens of billions of dollars at the expense of the people of Iran.
The rot is familial. Reminds one of the Biden crime family.
https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2025/06/16/ali-khamenei-irans-supreme-leaders-net-worth-95-billion-through-drug-dealings-corruptions-money-laundering-real-estates-and-prostitutions/
I’d like to know what banks in what countries have that money – for both families.
Remember Biden once tauntingly challenged: “Where’s the money?”
Zeenah says
To find the Money it seems to be a simple task of the Government pulling off a three A.M. surprise vist and than the gathering up of all Phones and other relivent electronics, Letters and Paper Files.
Why has the Government not done that yet?
SKA says
Funny thing: before he came to power Khomeini wrote in his Vilayat-e Faqih book that “we want a ruler who will chop off the hand of his own son if he steals from the public treasury!” The in 1988 when, as Friday Prayers leader, Khamene’i told the worshippers “Even the powers of the Islamic State must be limited by the laws of Islam.”
This drew a rebuke from Khomeini who stated that in order to maintain its power the Islamic State had the right even to order believers to disobey the Islamic law.” Well now it looks as if those who want to so-called Islamic Republic to survive must commit the ultimate act of disobedience: make peace with both the USA and Israel. Meanwhile they can use Khomeini’s older dictum to cut off Khamene’i and his son from the public treasury by removing them from power.
Cynthia says
This tyrannical regime will continue with the torture of its citizens and their livelihoods spent on jihad.
This is an awful outcome for the region, as these monsters will try to go nuclear and arm their proxies again.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I wonder how many Iranians have now got a full picture of the damage done to the regime’s infrastructure by the Israelis? Particularly the liquidation of the IRGC & Basij top brass? That’s what will be necessary to grow the critical mass necessary to overthrow the regime. That’s what is needed, not a leadership change of the islamic republic
rick says
The hard core jihadist are willing to compromise and even accept a non-Muslim to lead them but their first choice, Hitler, is dead.
Keys says
Very likely, rick. As you and Jihad Watch readers know, admiration for Hitler, (evidenced by Mein Kampf” still being a best seller in much of the Muslim world), is pervasive among the “best of people” – right up there with adoration for Mohammad (pbuh the poohbah), the “model man”.
Though both are dead, the spirit of Hitler and Mohammad still rots their hearts.
OLD GUY says
Funny how these great political leaders that proclaim to represent and protect the citizens they represent all have the BIG BANK ACCOUNTS after they are in office.