The process of appointing a new supreme leader in Iran is usually lengthy and can take months.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has chosen three senior clerics who could replace him in the event of his sudden death.
The New York Times reports this, citing its own sources in Iran.
The publication notes that the process of appointing a new supreme leader of Iran is usually lengthy and can take months until clerics select someone from a long list of candidates.
Given the threatening situation due to the war with Israel, the ayatollah wants to ensure a quick but orderly transition of power to pre-selected successors, according to NYT sources.
Khamenei is also said to have chosen in advance successors for senior officials in his military command in the event of their deaths.
The publication's sources report that the ayatollah is extremely cautious, believing that there is a threat to his life. In particular, Ali Khamenei mainly communicates with his commanders through a trusted aide and delays responses to emails to make it more difficult to detect him.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Washington knows exactly where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding, but does not yet plan to kill him.
As the NYT notes, this situation most clearly demonstrates how precarious the position of Iran's supreme leader has become after three decades in power.
Top Iranian officials are also secretly preparing for various scenarios, according to Iranian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Recall that it was previously reported that high-ranking Iranian officials began secret negotiations with Kremlin representatives about the possibility of evacuation to Russia in the event of a worsening situation in the country due to Israeli strikes.
