Israel warns of targeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei successor as Iran clerics prepare to meet

The Israeli military said it would continue to target anyone who replaces Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran last week.

In a post on X written in Farsi, the Israeli military warned that it would also pursue persons involved in appointing Khamenei’s successor, referring to the clerical body responsible for selecting the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.

Khamenei was killed on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear, military and leadership targets in Tehran, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in the long-running standoff with Iran.

Since then, the conflict has intensified, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks against Israeli and US interests in the region, while Israel has continued air strikes on Iranian and allied targets.

Iran’s powerful clerical body tasked with selecting the country’s supreme leader is expected to meet soon to decide on Khamenei’s successor, a process that could shape the future direction of the Islamic Republic amid the escalating war.