A well-placed group of Iranian insiders considers a future without the supreme leader.

‘Everybody Knows Khamenei’s Days Are Numbered’

A well-placed group of Iranian insiders considers a future without the supreme leader.

America’s Saturday-night attacks on Iran have amplified an ever more open debate in Tehran over the future of the country and whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should remain in power.

In the days leading up to the American intervention, a group of Iranian businessmen, political and military figures, and relatives of high-ranking clerics, two sources involved in the discussions told me, had begun hatching a plan for running Iran without Khamenei—whether in the event of the 86-year-old leader’s death or of his being pushed aside. Constitutionally, the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics, would need to vote to dismiss Khamenei from his position, but organizing such a vote under current circumstances is unlikely. The leader could also be more informally sidelined, say, by insiders who pressure or persuade him to pass real power to a temporary replacement. The plotters have agreed that a leadership committee consisting of a few high-ranking officials would take over running the country and negotiate a deal with the United States to stop the Israeli attacks.

The sources were fearful of being discovered but said that they were telling me of their conversations in the hope that the exposure could help them gauge regional and international response. Among the details they shared with me are that former President Hassan Rouhani, who is not involved in the discussions, is being considered for a key role on the leadership committee, and that some of the military officials involved have been in regular contact with their counterparts from a major Gulf country, seeking buy-in for changing Iran’s trajectory and the composition of its leadership.

More at:

Iranian officials considering removing Ali Khamenei as leader – report

Ali Khamenei considered to be removed as Iranian leader | The Jerusalem Post

Iranian officials are considering removing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the US and Israel heavily struck the country’s nuclear facilities.

Iranian officials are considering removing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the Supreme Leader of Iran after the country endured airstrikes by Israel and the United States, two sources involved in the discussions told The Atlantic in a report published on Sunday.

The plot to replace the supreme leader is being planned by a group of businessmen, military and political figures, and relatives and high-ranking clerics, the report said.

“Ours is just one idea,” a source told the Atlantic. “Tehran is now full of such plots. They are also talking to Europeans about the future of Iran. Everybody knows Khamenei’s days are numbered. Even if he stays in office, he won’t have actual power.”

The Atlantic reported that Iranian officials felt this sentiment even before the US strikes. However, sources noted that the alleged plots could go the opposite way. 

“I think the chances of us succeeding to somehow sideline Khamenei have now increased. But we are all worried and not sure. It could also go exactly the opposite way.”

Iran’s Assembly of Experts, which appoints the Supreme Leader, would have to vote to remove him from his position, but the Atlantic noted that organizing a vote would be unlikely while Tehran is under airstrikes.

The officials said that former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is being considered by the Iranian officials for a key role, but stressed that he was not involved in the discussions to replace Khamenei.

Some of the sources had mentioned that they want to reach a deal with US President Donald Trump, while others wish for the Islamic Republic to respond the the US’s airstrikes.

Iranian officials communicated with other US outlets on Khamenei’s condition

Earlier in the day, before the Atlantic report, three other Iranian officials told the New York Times under anonymity that Khamenei had barred all electronic communications and spoke to commanders through a “trusted aide” in fear of assassination.

The NYT, citing the officials, said that the supreme leader was “rattled” by Israel’s security echelon and its infiltration into the Islamic Republic.

The NYT also previously reported that Khamenei named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him as supreme leader if he is assassinated.

More at:

---

| International Media

Erica 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 on X (formerly Twitter): “The Iranian people are not upset with the actions of both Israel and the United States – they are seeking freedom from the Islamic regime that has controlled them since 1979. #IranIsraelConflict pic.twitter.com/NycZa4M9Wm / X”

The Iranian people are not upset with the actions of both Israel and the United States – they are seeking freedom from the Islamic regime that has controlled them since 1979. #IranIsraelConflict pic.twitter.com/NycZa4M9Wm

Rapid Response 47 on X (formerly Twitter): “MUST WATCH: @SecRubio schools Margaret Brennan on the Iranian regime’s nuclear program.”Why do they have 60% enriched uranium? … The only countries in the world that have uranium at 60% are countries that have nuclear weapons because they can quickly make it 90%!” pic.twitter.com/XO8ol5jBIn / X”

MUST WATCH: @SecRubio schools Margaret Brennan on the Iranian regime’s nuclear program.”Why do they have 60% enriched uranium? … The only countries in the world that have uranium at 60% are countries that have nuclear weapons because they can quickly make it 90%!” pic.twitter.com/XO8ol5jBIn

Nick Sortor on X (formerly Twitter): “🚨 WOW! America’s B-2 bombers made it all the way to Iran, carried out their strikes, and were NEVER detected by the IraniansJoint Chiefs of Staff Chair Razin Caine outlines all of Operation Midnight Hammer here.Iranian defense systems did not see the bombers, and no Iranian… pic.twitter.com/Y35SbcvhBC / X”

🚨 WOW! America’s B-2 bombers made it all the way to Iran, carried out their strikes, and were NEVER detected by the IraniansJoint Chiefs of Staff Chair Razin Caine outlines all of Operation Midnight Hammer here.Iranian defense systems did not see the bombers, and no Iranian… pic.twitter.com/Y35SbcvhBC

---