Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been chosen to succeed his father according to Iranian opposition coverage.
Iranian International reported that the Assembly of Experts tapped Mojtaba to assume control, and Israeli outlets quickly circulated the claim.
Iran’s state-run media have not confirmed the selection.
Initial post-strike reports that Mojtaba was among roughly 40 senior regime figures killed now appear to have been inaccurate.
The reported appointment was described in outlets including the linked report.
If confirmed, elevating Mojtaba would keep control inside the Khamenei family at a time of heightened tensions inside the Islamic Republic.
Regional Fallout and Israeli Strike
The rumor surfaced as Israel said it struck another clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons site.
The Israel Defense Forces reported destroying a secret site identified as Min Zadai on Tehran’s northeastern outskirts.
IDF Chief Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said the facility was tied to weapons development and that Israeli intelligence tracked nuclear scientists attempting to travel there covertly.
The developments underscore growing instability and the strategic pressure Israel is placing on Iran’s nuclear efforts.
