Iran\u2019s supreme leader is \u201ccowering\u201d deep beneath the surface of his country, preparing for his inevitable death and planning to select a successor, according to official insiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two top Iranian officials informed The Atlantic that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2019s days are short, and they may not wait for him to die of natural causes before removing him. Khamenei faces the most critical leadership test of his career after the United States destroyed three of the country\u2019s main nuclear enrichment sites on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEverybody knows Khamenei\u2019s days are numbered,\u201d claimed one official. \u201cEven if he stays in office, he won\u2019t have actual power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khamenei, 86, has ruled Iran since 1989. Generational shift has swept the country of 92 million people, with an average age of 34 years. Long-standing health issues, along with the ambitions of younger senior national officials, contribute to the perception that Khamenei is not the best candidate to rule Iran after 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Iranian supreme leader last addressed the country on Wednesday from a secret underground bunker where he was hunkered down in anticipation of a U.S. strike. President Trump previously stated that he would decide \u201cwithin two weeks\u201d whether to strike Iran, a feint that White House officials say was intended to conceal the fact that he had already decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has also suspended the use of electronic gadgets, possibly in response to President Trump\u2019s social media remark last week in which he fantasized about \u201ckilling\u201d Khamenei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the New York Times, three persons have been listed as prospective successors to Khamenei in the case of his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Daily Mail, Khamenei created a three-man committee two years ago to determine his eventual replacement, and the work has quickened in recent days. Five people familiar with Khamenei\u2019s movement told Reuters that he is also responding to Israel\u2019s threat to murder him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a top official, Khamenei\u2019s family remains in hiding with him and is being safeguarded by the Vali-ye Amr, a special unit inside Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Predicting Iran\u2019s political trajectory if Khamenei is assassinated will be difficult, the source noted, emphasizing the significance of rapidly appointing a successor to ensure government stability and continuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to one source, the next leader will be picked based on his commitment to the revolutionary principles advocated by the Islamic Republic\u2019s late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Simultaneously, the successor\u2019s capacity to modify the country\u2019s image will be assessed, indicating a notion that more transparent dealings on the global arena will lessen the possibility of future attacks on Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khamenei\u2019s 56-year-old son Mojtaba and Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Iran\u2019s Islamic revolution founder, are two strong possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insiders believe that despite being a member of the reformist faction that advocates for more tolerance in social life and fewer extreme ideas, Khomeini continues to be respected by the country\u2019s clerical authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI once again humbly express that this small and insignificant servant of the Iranian people stands ready to proudly be present on any front or scene you deem necessary,\u201d Khomeini said on Sunday in a message telegraphing his support for Iran\u2019s supreme leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US Embassy in Qatar issued an emergency \u201cshelter in place\u201d order for any Americans residing there on Monday, citing rising tensions with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The embassy stated that the advisory was issued \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d but did not provide any particular threats. The alert follows the State Department\u2019s warning to the American people throughout the world in response to the US\u2019s extraordinary strikes on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fox News reported on Monday morning that sources have said that Iran could be planning to attack a United States military base or region in Qatar within the \u201cnext 48 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East. There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution,\u201d the State Department said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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