More than 36 hours have passed since the American strike, and there is still no word from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. No statement, no video—only silence. In Israel, many believe he is in hiding.
According to a Reuters report, a de facto alternative leadership is already in place.
The Iranian leadership has accelerated succession plans for the 86-year-old Khamenei amid growing threats from Israel and the U.S., sources say.
A three-man committee within the Assembly of Experts, which has been quietly working for two years, has ramped up its efforts following Israeli strikes and threats of assassination.
Khamenei, now in hiding and protected by elite forces, is receiving constant updates on the committee’s discussions.
Two main contenders have emerged: his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, favored by hardliners seeking continuity, and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, who is seen as a more moderate figure preferred by both clerics and the public.
Photo: Assassinated Qassame Soleimani embraces Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of