Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly selected three individuals as potential successors in the event that he is assassinated or killed by an Israeli attack, excluding his own son from the list.
Hiding out in a bunker, the despot has little contact with the outside world, very similar to how Osama Bin Laden’s final days played out.
Concerned about assassination threats, the supreme leader now primarily communicates with his military leaders via a trusted aide, avoiding electronic channels to reduce his traceability, according to three Iranian officials familiar with his wartime emergency plans.
Hidden away in a secure location, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has identified a series of successors within his military hierarchy to ensure leadership continuity if more of his key commanders are eliminated.
And in a remarkable move, the officials add, Ayatollah Khamenei has even named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed, as well — perhaps the most telling illustration of the precarious moment he and his three-decade rule are facing.
It’s not surprising that he’s a little nervous, considering Israel has wiped out a virtual planeload of top leaders and military commanders and the U.S. is considering getting involved in the conflict.
