Khamenei Names Successors While Hiding in Bunker Amid Israeli Threats

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly taken shelter in a secure bunker amid growing assassination threats from Israel, as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week. According to The New York Times, which cited three Iranian officials, the 86-year-old leader has taken an unprecedented step: naming three clerics as potential successors and urging the Assembly of Experts to move swiftly in selecting the next supreme leader.

This move marks a major shift from the traditionally slow and secretive succession process, usually involving extensive deliberation. Khamenei’s directive to accelerate the appointment signals both the seriousness of the current conflict and his concern for regime continuity amid heightened threats.

Contrary to earlier reports, his son Mojtaba Khamenei is not among the shortlisted candidates. Despite speculation that Mojtaba had long been groomed to inherit his father’s position, insiders say the Supreme Leader opted for a broader clerical pool to preserve unity and avoid accusations of nepotism.

Khamenei reportedly believes that any assassination attempt by Israel or the U.S. would be tantamount to martyrdom, further reinforcing his determination to protect the Islamic Republic’s future leadership structure. Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the body constitutionally responsible for choosing the supreme leader, has reportedly received direct orders to prioritize a stable and immediate transition.

Vali Nasr, a leading Iran scholar at Johns Hopkins University, told the NYT, “The top priority is the preservation of the state. It is all calculative and pragmatic.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when asked about potential strikes targeting Khamenei, stated bluntly that “no one is immune,” indicating that even the Supreme Leader could be in Israel’s crosshairs.

The conflict shows no signs of de-escalation. Israeli jets targeted a nuclear research facility near Isfahan as part of a fresh wave of strikes. Diplomatic efforts in Geneva involving European foreign ministers and Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi failed to achieve any breakthrough. While Araghchi expressed openness to future talks, he made it clear Iran won’t negotiate under fire.