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Israel Vows to Eliminate Iran's Next Supreme Leader as Tehran Prepares Funeral

Iran is set to begin a three-day farewell ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Israeli media reports suggest his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been chosen as the successor, though this is unconfirmed by Iranian state media. In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning that any new leader appointed by Iran will be a "target for elimination." The warning comes amid ongoing conflict, with over 1,200 people evacuated to Israeli hospitals since hostilities with Iran escalated.

Key Points: Israel Warns Iran's New Leader is Target Amid Khamenei Funeral

  • Iran begins 3-day farewell for late Supreme Leader
  • Reports name son Mojtaba Khamenei as likely successor
  • Israel warns new leader is a target for elimination
  • Mojtaba linked to IRGC and prior US sanctions
3 min read

3 day farewell ceremony for late Ayatollah Khamenei to begin in Tehran tonight; Israel warns, "new leader will be target for elimination"

As Iran begins farewell for Ayatollah Khamenei, Israel warns his successor will be a target for elimination. Reports name his son Mojtaba as likely heir.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime... will be an unequivocal target for elimination. - Israel Katz"

Tehran, March 4

Iran's state media has reported that Iranians will Iranians will bid farewell to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a ceremony later tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony will last for three days and the funeral procession will be announced when it is finalized.

Israeli Media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet news that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours. However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report. Israeli Media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran.

In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.

Responding to the development, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. "It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.

"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.

Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, 219 injured people have been taken to hospitals as a result of the conflict with Iran, said Times of Israel. According to the Ministry, a total of 1,274 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the fighting began on Saturday. Of that number, 96 are still currently hospitalized, while the remainder have been treated and released.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Israel's statement is incredibly provocative. Publicly declaring a foreign leader a target for assassination, even before they are formally appointed, sets a dangerous precedent in international relations. This isn't about taking sides; it's about basic norms of statecraft.
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Priya S
The report says Mojtaba was behind crackdowns on protesters. If true, that's very sad for the ordinary people of Iran. Every nation's citizens deserve freedom and peace. Hope the transition doesn't bring more instability to the region, it affects global oil prices and our economy too.
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Rohit P
Direct successor from the family? Sounds less like a theocratic republic and more like a monarchy. Israel's threat is wrong, but it highlights the problem when leadership is not accountable to the people. India's democratic model, for all its flaws, is still the best.
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Aman W
The real story is the 1200+ people injured. Whether it's protesters in Iran or citizens in Israel, it's always the common man who suffers the most in these geopolitical games. Our MEA should focus on safely bringing back any Indian students or workers if tensions escalate.
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Karthik V
This is a major shift in West Asia. A new, potentially more hardline leader in Iran means recalibration for India's foreign policy. We cannot afford to lose Chabahar, it's crucial for connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Tough balancing act ahead for Jaishankar sir.

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