IRGC pushes to appoint Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, as his successor

The first emergency meeting of the Assembly of Experts to appoint a successor to Ali Khamenei was reportedly inconclusive due to Israeli airstrikes on the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, with another session scheduled for Thursday.

Iran International reports that some members of the assembly will not attend Thursday's session in protest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' "heavy pressure" to impose the election of Mojtaba Khamenei on the assembly. The opposition-affiliated news outlet reported that IRGC commanders have been pressuring members of the Assembly to vote for Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran International said a group opposing the younger Khamenei’s appointment as Supreme Leader would create "the suspicion of inherited leadership" and "the suspicion of an Islamic Republic monarchy" for the public. The group is calling for Mojtaba Khamenei to step down and hold another vote in Thursday's session.

According to the sources, the IRGC argues that due to the "special circumstances,” the selection of a new leader should be made as soon as possible, saying a delay could exacerbate instability and harm the regime’s survival.