A senior member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts said a majority consensus has been reached on a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but that obstacles remain before the choice can be formally announced.
Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, a member of the clerical body tasked with appointing the country’s leader, said the Assembly had broadly agreed on a candidate but that “some obstacles regarding the process need to be resolved,” according to remarks reported by Mehr News.
Separately, Mohsen Heidari AleKasir, a representative from Khuzestan province in the Assembly of Experts, said current security conditions prevented members from gathering in person to formally select the new leader.
“Due to the current conditions, it is not possible to hold an in-person meeting to select the leader,” he said, adding that the “most suitable option” had already been chosen and had the backing of a majority of the Assembly.
“Even the Great Satan (the United States) has mentioned his name,” Heidari said of the chosen successor, appearing to confirm Iran International’s report that Mojtaba Khamenei had been selected – days after US President Donald Trump said Khamenei’s son was “unacceptable.”
Haidari also said that the late Supreme Leader had not designated a successor and had left the decision to the Assembly of Experts.
Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly – an 88-member clerical body – is responsible for selecting and overseeing the country’s supreme leader.
Sources familiar with internal discussions, however, say the Assembly has already selected Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the late supreme leader, though divisions remain over how and when to publicly announce the decision.
According to those sources, the vote took place during an online session of the Assembly held last week amid heightened security tensions and ongoing military strikes targeting Iranian facilities.
The session, convened after damage to government buildings and security concerns, was held remotely and under pressure to quickly resolve the leadership question.
Several members of the Assembly have expressed objections to Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection, warning that appointing the son of the late leader risks reinforcing perceptions of hereditary rule in the Islamic Republic.
Critics have also raised questions about Mojtaba Khamenei’s clerical standing and whether his religious credentials meet the traditional requirements for the position of supreme leader.
Sources said some Assembly members threatened to boycott a follow-up meeting or challenge the legitimacy of the process if the announcement proceeds without further discussion.
The Assembly’s leadership has delayed a formal public declaration while attempting to manage disagreements over the process and timing of the announcement.
