The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly handpicked three potential successors in case he is killed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign — a revelation that signals unprecedented urgency inside Tehran’s highest ranks.

According to an investigative report by The New York Times on Saturday, the 86-year-old Supreme Leader, now operating from a fortified bunker, privately named three senior clerics to assume power should he die during the conflict.

The Times cites “senior Iranian officials” who say Khamenei made the selections after a string of high-level assassinations by Israeli forces.

Significantly, Khamenei’s influential son, Mojtaba, long rumoured to be groomed for succession, was not included in the list.

This marks a dramatic shift from years of speculation that a dynastic handover was being engineered behind the scenes, Jerusalem Post also reports on Saturday.

“Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them,” reported The New York Times, citing confidential Iranian sources close to the leadership.

Meanwhile, The Jerusalem Post corroborated the report, noting that the Supreme Leader has also “selected replacements down his military chain of command” in anticipation of further Israeli strikes that could decimate his inner circle.

Succession Crisis in Real Time

Under normal conditions, Iran’s Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts — an 88-member clerical body.

But Khamenei’s reported actions suggest he is attempting to shape that outcome in advance, potentially bypassing traditional structures to preserve his ideological legacy and prevent internal fractures.

Analysts say the selection of three clerics, rather than one, reflects both a lack of consensus within Iran’s ruling elite and the urgency of contingency planning as the threat level escalates.

While names have not been officially released, the report indicates the candidates are figures trusted by Khamenei and aligned with the regime’s hardline core.

Implications Beyond Iran

The move has immediate geopolitical consequences. With the region on edge following Israeli strikes on senior Iranian and Hezbollah commanders, the specter of regime instability could further inflame the Middle East.

It also raises questions about the viability of Iran’s leadership structure should Khamenei be incapacitated.

“Khamenei’s action signals a regime that sees the risk of decapitation as real,” said a senior regional intelligence official quoted in The New York Times. “It is succession planning not in theory — but under fire.”

Background Brief, Timeline

Assassination Fears Push Khamenei Into Bunker

Amid rising fears of assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly gone underground and handpicked three senior clerics to succeed him, excluding his influential son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The move comes as Israeli airstrikes and covert operations target Tehran’s top command structure.

“Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker… Mojtaba is not among them.” — The New York Times reports Saturday.

“Iran is acting under the assumption that decapitation strikes are imminent.” — The Jerusalem Post reports Saturday.

Israeli Strikes Decimate Iran’s Military Elite

The urgency behind Khamenei’s actions stems from a string of Israeli assassinations since early June 2025. Top IRGC commanders like Hossein Salami and Gholam Ali Rashid were reportedly killed. An Israeli strike on June 13 alone eliminated multiple senior nuclear scientists and military officials.

“General Hossein Salami has been killed in an Israeli strike.” — Reuters, June 17, 2025

“At least 22 Mossad informants arrested after coordinated hits on IRGC targets.” — Tasnim News, June 18, 2025.

A Break From Dynastic Succession

For years, analysts believed Mojtaba Khamenei was being groomed as heir. But his omission signals a deliberate pivot away from hereditary leadership. Instead, the Supreme Leader is reportedly favoring ideologically aligned clerics trusted by the hardline establishment.

“Mojtaba’s exclusion is a message: no dynasty here.” — Times of India, June 21, 2025

“The three unnamed clerics reflect hardline continuity, not reformist compromise.” — New York Post, June 21, 2025.

Regional Ripples and Succession Uncertainty

With Iran bracing for leadership transition during wartime, questions loom over how the Assembly of Experts will respond. Traditionally empowered to choose the next Supreme Leader, the Assembly may now be sidelined by Khamenei’s preemptive maneuvering. Regional players are watching closely, as Iran’s internal cohesion and external posture hang in the balance.

“The Assembly of Experts may still have formal power, but Khamenei’s choices could shape succession beyond the grave.” — Financial Times, June 20, 2025.

“The Islamic Republic is preparing for a transition in the shadow of war.” — Punch Newspaper, June 21, 2025.

What Happens Next

The Assembly of Experts could still exercise formal authority, but if Khamenei’s influence continues beyond the grave — through his private picks — Iran’s post-Khamenei era may be shaped more by survivalism than clerical consensus.

For now, the message from Tehran is clear: the Islamic Republic is bracing for a leadership transition in the shadow of war, multiple media agencies report. (Saturday PUNCH)