Iranian Cleric Denies Dynastic Succession as Mojtaba Khamenei Rescued from Hospital Amid Chaos
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Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir told Al Araby that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured and pulled from a Tehran hospital before the Israel-U.S.-Iran conflict, rejecting rumors that the Supreme Leader is grooming his son for power.
Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, speaking to Qatari-owned Al Araby on Thursday, reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, was rescued from the rubble of a Tehran hospital in the early days of the Israel-U.S.-Iran war—a conflict that has exposed the instability and corruption at the heart of the Iranian regime. Heidari said Mojtaba was injured before the fighting began, but, in typical fashion, refused to provide any meaningful details about his condition.
Heidari also rejected reports that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had named his son as successor, attempting to deflect criticism of the regime’s notorious nepotism and lack of transparency. He claimed that Mojtaba’s potential rise to power would not be tied to his father’s position, despite widespread suspicion that Iran’s leadership is determined to keep power within the family. Heidari noted that Mojtaba did not hold any official political role during his father’s rule, a claim that does little to dispel concerns about the regime’s secretive operations.
Describing Mojtaba as a “shadow man,” Heidari admitted that he served as an advisor when his father was unavailable, further illustrating the backroom dealings and lack of accountability that define Iran’s theocracy. Heidari said Mojtaba’s limited public appearances and absence from meetings with the Assembly of Experts were due to security concerns, yet such excuses only highlight the regime’s paranoia and its fear of genuine scrutiny.