Iran’s Supreme Leader Successor Reportedly Absent Amid Internal Turmoil and Threats Against Israel

A senior Israeli security source has revealed unprecedented intelligence suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei, the designated successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, is not currently in the country. According to the report, messages attributed to him are actually drafted by former Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This points to deep internal divisions within Iran’s ruling elite, threatening the regime’s stability.

The source described a chaotic and unstable situation in Tehran, highlighting violent power struggles within the regime and a significant threat to the IRGC’s survival. Additionally, the intelligence disclosed that Iran has planned retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli figures in Tel Aviv, in response to the assassination of the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February 2026.

Despite rumors of Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from Iran, an official Iranian statement claimed he will not appear publicly until the ongoing conflict with the United States concludes, framing his absence as a strategic military decision. Meanwhile, tensions between Iran’s civilian government, led by President Masoud Pezhkian, and the military power centers continue, with the IRGC resisting presidential appointments and controlling strategic wartime decisions.

Since his father’s killing, Mojtaba has remained out of public view, reportedly due to serious injuries and security concerns. His silence has been used by the regime as a strategic tool, but recent destruction of regime symbols in major Iranian cities has fueled public doubts about his leadership. The Israeli source also noted Washington’s reluctance to escalate regional conflict, preferring limited Israeli responses even if Iran attacks directly.

This intelligence sheds light on Iran’s internal instability and ongoing threats against Israel, underscoring the fragile state of the Iranian regime amid escalating regional tensions.