Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, is reportedly in serious health decline, with his second-eldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei, emerging as the frontrunner for succession, according to a recent New York Times report.
Behind the scenes, a “quiet battle” over his successor is brewing among Iran’s political elite, with the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) expected to play a decisive role in determining the next Supreme Leader.
The question of succession took on added urgency following the tragic death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, removing a major contender from the equation.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who has held the position since 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.