Iran’s clerical body set to decide on Khamenei’s son as next leader

Iran’s Assembly of Experts is set to convene an emergency session on March 5 to formally declare Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s next leader, despite objections from several members who oppose what they describe as the establishment of “hereditary leadership.”

The development was reported by Iran International, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The planned meeting comes two days after the outlet reported that the Assembly of Experts, under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had already chosen Mojtaba Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader of Iran.

Two sources working with representatives of the Assembly told Iran International that at least eight members of the clerical body plan to boycott Thursday’s emergency session. Their absence is intended as a protest against what they described as “strong pressure” from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to compel support for Mojtaba Khamenei’s candidacy.

The Assembly had already attempted to meet earlier in the week to address the succession issue. The first emergency session was held on Tuesday, but it was interrupted after the Israeli Air Force struck the Assembly’s building in the city of Qom.

According to the sources, Thursday’s meeting will take place online and will be broadcast from a building located near the mausoleum of Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom. Several representatives and members of the Assembly’s leadership council who reside in the city are expected to attend the session in person, while others will participate remotely.

By Tamilla Hasanova