The Middle East powder keg has a new fuse after Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz promised to eliminate Iran’s incoming supreme leader. This comes hot on the heels of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in US-Israel bombings, with his son Mojtaba now thrust into the spotlight.
Saturday’s devastating Tehran raids killed Khamenei and top commanders, prompting Iran’s Assembly of Experts to appoint Mojtaba on Wednesday under IRGC pressure. Lacking conditions for an in-person vote, the body resorted to digital deliberations, a move Iran International deems politically explosive.
Katz didn’t mince words: “Any regime-picked leader pushing to wipe out Israel, threaten America, the free world, and regional states while brutalizing Iranians—that’s our clear target for termination.” Location and name are irrelevant, he stressed, vowing relentless pursuit.
Working hand-in-glove with US partners, Israel aims to cripple the government’s machinery, fostering conditions for Iranians to dismantle and replace it. Meanwhile, Tehran kicks off Khamenei’s three-day memorial at midnight local time in the Grand Musalla, burial info withheld.
Iran’s self-proclaimed anti-hereditary stance now faces scrutiny: succeeding a father killed by foes risks portraying the regime as the very monarchy it opposes. This irony, amplified by war’s disruptions, could spark domestic backlash. Katz’s ultimatum amplifies post-strike frictions, framing Israel not just as a defender but a catalyst for Iranian regime change amid a volatile power vacuum.