NYT: Khamenei has picked three potential successors, filled senior military posts from bunker

This photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, shows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a televised speech, under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, June 13, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
This photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, shows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a televised speech, under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, June 13, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has nominated three clerics as potential successors while hiding in a bunker as he faces threats of assassination by Israel in the ongoing war, The New York Times reports.

Khamenei has also begun filling spots of senior commanders eliminated by Israel, according to the report, which cites three Iranian officials familiar with the plans.

According to the officials, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, is not among the three clerics nominated to become the supreme leader. Previous reports have said that Khamenei was grooming his son to take over upon his death.

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