Jerusalem: Israel has warned that it will also target Iran’s next supreme leader if he continues what it describes as hostile actions against the country. The warning comes as Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is widely seen as the leading candidate to take over the country’s highest position.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said that whoever becomes Iran’s next supreme leader could face the same fate as his predecessor. He said Israel would find the leader wherever he hides if Iran continues to threaten Israel and support attacks against it.
The warning follows a dramatic escalation in tensions after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during recent Israeli strikes that targeted key leadership and military facilities in Iran. The incident has pushed the region into one of the most dangerous moments in recent years.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric who has long been influential behind the scenes in Iranian politics, is now being discussed as a possible successor. He is believed to have strong connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other powerful groups inside the country.
However, his possible appointment is controversial because Iran’s political system has never formally passed leadership from father to son. Critics inside and outside Iran say such a move would appear to turn the Islamic republic into a dynastic system.
Following the death of Ali Khamenei, Iran has entered a sensitive transition period. The country’s Assembly of Experts is expected to play a key role in choosing the next supreme leader. In the meantime, Iranian authorities have begun national mourning and large funeral ceremonies are being held in Tehran.
Iran has strongly condemned the killing of its leader and warned that it will respond. Officials in Tehran said the attack crossed a dangerous red line and accused Israel and the United States of attempting to destabilise the country.
The latest Israeli warning has further increased fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Analysts say that if Mojtaba Khamenei becomes the next supreme leader, he could face immediate security threats as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to rise.