US intelligence reportedly briefed President Donald Trump and a small group of his close advisors that Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had reservations about his son succeeding him.
According to a report by CBS News, the former leader was ‘wary’ of his son assuming power as he was perceived as ‘not very bright’ and was aware that Mojtaba Khamenei ‘had issues in his personal life’. He was viewed as ‘unqualified to be a leader,’ reported the outlet – citing sources aware of the intelligence input.
Earlier this month, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei – the second son of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – was elected as the country’s new supreme leader. At that time, a report by Iran International mentioned that the decision was allegedly taken under pressure from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed during US-Israel’s joint strikes on Iran, which were launched on Saturday, 28 February. Hours later, the same day – Iran retaliated — with exposions reported across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, among other Middle East hubs, which are also home to US military bases.
How did Trump react to the input?
Trump reportedly told people close to him that he is unsure about whether the intelligence input about Mojtaba Khamenei matters. The POTUS believes Iran is essentially leaderless right now, with the younger Khamenei possibly dead, reported CBS News.
On Friday, US State Department placed a $10 million (over ₹83 crore) Mojtaba Khamenei and senior IRGC officials under its Rewards for Justice programme, in Washington’s boldest intelligence push against Tehran yet.
‘Leadership gone…’
Trump had publicly suggested that Iran’s late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had little confidence in his son as a potential leader.
“Their leadership is gone. Their second leadership is gone. Now their third leadership is in trouble, and this is not somebody that the father even wanted,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Friday.
Trump also described the new supreme leader as a “lightweight” and said such a figure would be an “unacceptable” leader for Iran. He further suggested that he would like some level of oversight over who eventually becomes Iran’s next leader.
On Friday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and “likely disfigured”. Although he did not provide evidence for Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition but criticised the absence of a video or audio statement, calling it “a weak” communication
