After more than forty years since the revolution, Iran has returned to dynastic succession, at a time when the Islamic Republic is fighting for its survival, notes L’Orient-Le Jour. Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday, March 8 as the supreme leader of Iran, following his father’s death on the first day of the Israeli-American war against Iran on February 28. The 56-year-old cleric was chosen by the Assembly of Experts, a group of 88 members from the Shiite clergy. A statement was solemnly read on state television by a presenter while a photo of the new supreme leader appeared on the screen.
“The late Ayatollah Khamenei had indicated to close advisors that he did not want his son to succeed him, because he did not want the position to become hereditary,” three senior Iranian officials told The New York Times. He saw it as “the equivalent of an illegitimate monarchy,” like the one overturned by the 1979 Islamic revolution, notes L’Orient-Le Jour. In the end, Mojtaba Khamenei’s choice “suggests that the circles of power in Iran […] have closed ranks at a moment of acute crisis and war,” concludes The New York Times.
The son of Ayatollah Khamenei is a “mysterious figure,” especially in Iran, as highlighted by the American newspaper. This “influential personality,” who has been acting behind the scenes coordinating military and intelligence operations from his father’s office, remains unknown in terms of his personality and political positions outside his father’s close circle, observes The New York Times, noting that he “rarely speaks and appears in public.”
“The hardline of the theocratic power consolidated” – Some observers believe that Mojtaba Khamenei’s choice can be explained by his close ties with the Revolutionary Guards, underscoring the hardline current within the most powerful institution in the country that is deeply rooted in the state apparatus, as noted by L’Orient-Le Jour.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to power “consolidates the hardline of the theocratic power in the country and sends a strong message of defiance to Donald Trump,” according to The Washington Post.
Khamenei was the “right-hand man of his father,” as observed by Al-Jazeera journalist Ali Hashem. According to him, “one should expect a leader who is confrontational. No moderation is expected.”
Rami Khouri, a researcher at the American University of Beirut, also believes that the appointment of Ayatollah Khamenei’s son clearly constitutes a “gesture of defiance” to the United States and Israel. Iran is saying to the Americans and the Israelis: “You wanted to get rid of our system? Well, here is a person more radical than his assassinated father,” he declared to Al-Jazeera.
On Monday, shortly after the announcement of this appointment, Tehran claimed to have launched new missile attacks towards Israel. Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain faced new attacks on their soil. In Bahrain, a drone strike injured 32 civilians, including 4 seriously, in Sitra at dawn, according to the Ministry of Health. In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense announced the interception of two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country.
“Concern in Tehran” – However, no immediate comment was made by the White House after the announcement of the appointment of Ali Khamenei’s son. When asked about it by The Times of Israel in a telephone interview, Donald Trump evaded the question, simply responding, “We will see what happens.”
Sunday, just before the announcement, the American president had stated on the ABC News website that the next supreme leader would have to “obtain approval” from the White House. “If he does not get our approval, he will not last long,” he threatened.
According to information from The Washington Post, the Assembly of Experts had decided several days ago to choose Mojtaba Khamenei, but they were “divided on whether to announce this decision during wartime,” according to a source close to the Iranian religious establishment. “Many members of the Assembly believed that such an announcement was too dangerous in the face of Israeli threats against the next supreme leader,” the source added.
