"Whoever Succeeds Him Will Be Killed": Iran Delays Naming New Supreme Leader

[Financial News] The Islamic Republic of Iran is reportedly postponing the announcement of a successor following the death of Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Security concerns have grown after the United States of America (US) and Israel openly warned that the next leader could also be a target of attack.
According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 5th (local time), Iran’s leadership decided to delay naming a new Supreme Leader of Iran after the US and Israel suggested that his successor could also be targeted. The report said officials feared that once the new leader is made public, he could immediately become the focus of an attack.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei’s second son, is currently regarded as the most likely successor. Local officials say growing concern over Mojtaba Khamenei’s safety has made the process of transferring power more cautious and deliberate.
Former US President Donald Trump openly criticized Iran’s succession moves in an interview with Axios. "They are wasting time," he said, calling Mojtaba Khamenei "an incompetent and unacceptable choice." He added, "Just like with Delcy Rodríguez in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, I should be involved in the appointment process."
Israel has also taken a hard line. Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz warned on social media, "Whoever Iran appoints as the next leader will clearly be a target for elimination."
Airstrikes by the US and Israel are reported to have killed Ali Hosseini Khamenei along with top military commanders and key defense officials, but most of the clerical leadership is believed to have survived. Local media also report that the heads of the three branches of government—the president, the chief of the judiciary, and the speaker of parliament—are all still alive.
Sina Azodi, director of the Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) at The George Washington University, said, "Iran’s leadership believes that announcing a new Supreme Leader of Iran could immediately serve as a signal for a preemptive strike." He added, "The process has already begun, substantial internal consensus has been reached, and Mojtaba Khamenei is being discussed as the leading candidate."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter