In a move slammed as regressive, Iran has installed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the top job. U.S. senators are vocal in their dismay, arguing this isn’t the regime shift the West anticipated.
Senator Lindsey Graham captured the sentiment on X: ‘Just a matter of time before he suffers his father’s fate.’ The Republican firebrand’s Iran hawkishness is well-documented, including tips to Netanyahu on engaging Trump for strikes, per recent Wall Street Journal insights.
President Trump demurred on specifics about Mojtaba but opened up to The Times of Israel on de-escalation. He outlined a joint U.S.-Israel call on ceasing Iran operations: ‘We’ll talk it through at the right moment, with full consideration. No need for Israel to go it alone afterward.’
David Petraeus, former CIA chief, deemed it ‘unfortunate,’ foreseeing no departure from paternal radicalism. He highlighted Mojtaba’s unproven Ayatollah status, reminiscent of Ali’s obscure start.
From Jerusalem, Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a chilling ultimatum: Any Iranian plotting Israel’s erasure is marked for elimination, hideout be damned. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana affirmed Israel’s unwavering policy against Tehran’s core threats.
The international backlash paints a precarious picture for Iran’s new guardian. Senators’ scorn, Trump’s strategic hints, Petraeus’s skepticism, and Israel’s bold warnings signal that Mojtaba steps into a role fraught with peril, presaging an end echoing his father’s.