Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei seriously ill, son likely to be his successor: report

Last update:October 27, 2024, 11:05 IST

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989. There have been concerns about the succession after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last year.

The report on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s illness comes amid Israel’s response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on military facilities. (Image: AP/File)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly “seriously ill” and a quiet succession battle has emerged. This comes as the country reflects on its response to the Israeli attacks early on Saturday (October 26).

According to a report published by The New York TimesKhamenei’s second eldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei (55), will likely succeed him. The 85-year-old’s health condition is said to be serious, and even the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is considering deciding who will succeed him.

Khamenei has been supreme leader since 1989, following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini. There have been concerns about the succession after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last year. The times He said there has been “internal unrest” about the possible succession since Raisi’s death.

The leader’s illness complicates the situation following Israel’s response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on military facilities. Iranian officials have said they do not want further escalation. Not only Iran, Israel has also attacked targets in Iraq and Syria.

Therefore, Iran’s dilemma is now acute, with wavering allies, a failing economy and, now, an ailing supreme leader sparking a succession battle.

What did Iran say after the Israeli attacks?

Iran’s military issued a carefully worded statement Saturday night suggesting that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon trumps any retaliation against Israel. While stating that it had the right to retaliate, the statement suggested that Tehran could be trying to find a way to avoid further escalation.

Iran’s military also said that Israel used so-called “standoff” missiles over Iraqi airspace to launch its attacks, and that the warheads were much lighter to travel the distance to the targets they struck in three Iranian provinces. The statement said Iranian military radar sites had been damaged, but some were already under repair.

(With contributions from the agency)