Who Will Be Iran’s Next Leader? A Look at Possible Successors to Khamenei
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei never publicly named his successor. However, his second-eldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has long been considered a likely heir to Iran’s Islamic leadership, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Tehran:
After Tehran confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US–Israel strike, Iran’s future now appears uncertain. While the United States and Israel are calling for regime change in Tehran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly launched operations amid concerns that it may attempt to seize power.
Meanwhile, two major opposition leaders are also trying to position themselves in what they describe as a “new Iran.” Following the US strikes, opposition leader Maryam Rajavi and exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued separate messages urging Iranians to unite—each outlining a very different vision for the country’s future after the Islamic Republic.
Until Iran decides on a new leader, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that a temporary leadership council will take over the Supreme Leader’s duties. This council will consist of the president, the head of the judiciary, and one jurist from the Guardian Council.
What Donald Trump Said About Iran’s New Leader
After announcing the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said there are “some good candidates” to lead Iran.
In a phone interview with CBS News, Trump said,
“I know exactly who it is, but I can’t tell you.”
When asked if there was someone he would like to see lead Iran, Trump replied,
“Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates,”
without giving further details.
Iran’s Two Opposition Figures
Maryam Rajavi is the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), based in Paris. In a message to Iranians, she called on the public to overthrow the ruling clerical regime and establish a democratic republic.
According to a report by the New York Post, Rajavi said,
“Our nation has endured growing suffering and damage caused by extremist religious rule.”
She urged Iranians—especially the country’s “brave youth”—to protect civilians during this period of growing instability.
Formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the NCRI presents itself as a government-in-exile. The group claims it has a ready blueprint for a six-month transitional administration that would lead to free elections and restore popular sovereignty.
Rajavi said,
“Now is the time for unity.”
She added that Iranians reject both the Shah and the mullahs, clearly ruling out any return to monarchy.
Reza Pahlavi’s Message
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last monarch, also posted on X, saying he has a plan for democratic transition if the Islamic Republic collapses.
He described US action as a “humanitarian intervention” against the regime, not against the Iranian people.
Pahlavi wrote,
“The final victory will be ours. We, the people of Iran, will finish this task in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is coming.”
Both leaders directly appealed to Iran’s military and security forces to help pave the way for a democratic transfer of power.
Rajavi urged members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other security bodies to lay down their weapons and stand with the people. Pahlavi, on the other hand, warned security personnel that if they continue to defend the regime, they would “sink with Khamenei’s ship.”
Risk of a Power Grab
Experts have also warned that in Khamenei’s absence, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may attempt to seize power. Khamenei never publicly named a successor, but his second-eldest son Mojtaba Khamenei has long been seen as a capable heir to the Islamic system, according to Reuters sources.
Now 56 years old, Mojtaba is said to closely follow his father’s hard-line policies, according to insiders.
Another surviving figure within the establishment is Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Revolution.
According to the New York Post, 53-year-old Hassan Khomeini has emerged in recent months as a serious candidate and is viewed as a more conciliatory option than Khamenei, both domestically and internationally.
How Succession Works in Iran
By the morning after Khamenei’s killing, the outlines of a complex succession process had already begun to take shape. As outlined in Iran’s constitution, the country formed a leadership council on Sunday to temporarily assume authority and govern the nation.
This council includes Iran’s current president, the head of the judiciary, and one member of the Guardian Council selected by Iran’s Expediency Council. The Guardian Council advises the Supreme Leader and resolves disputes with parliament.
Iran’s reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei are among the key members expected to take charge going forward…