A senior Iranian cleric has indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may soon be announced as the country’s next supreme leader, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.

Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, suggested that the decision has already been made by the body responsible for appointing the supreme leader. Speaking in a video published by Iranian media, Eshkevari said that “the name of Khamenei will continue,” adding that the vote had already been cast and a formal announcement would be made soon. However, he did not provide further details about the process or timing of the announcement.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, is constitutionally responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, the country’s highest authority with the final say on all major political, military, and religious matters. In recent weeks, speculation has intensified that Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardline cleric known for his close ties to Iran’s security establishment, could succeed his father.

The reported decision comes at a time of heightened regional tensions. Israel has expanded its military strikes inside Iran, reportedly targeting key strategic sites including fuel depots. Israeli forces have also claimed responsibility for the killing of Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, in a strike carried out on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bahrain has accused Iran of being behind an attack on a desalination plant, further adding to the volatile situation across the Gulf.

The potential succession has also drawn international attention. U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that Washington should have a role in determining Iran’s next leader, a statement that Iranian officials have firmly rejected, insisting that the matter is strictly an internal decision for the Islamic Republic.