US intel says Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei doubted son Mojtaba as successor

WASHINGTON, DC: US intelligence officials have reportedly circulated an assessment suggesting that Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had reservations about his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, eventually taking over the country’s top leadership role.

According to sources familiar with the intelligence, the information was briefed to President Donald Trump and a small group of senior officials in Washington.

The assessment surfaced as Iran navigates a leadership transition following Ali Khamenei’s death in Israeli strikes earlier this year and amid ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. 

Mojtaba Khamenei was later selected as the country’s new supreme leader by Iran’s clerical leadership.

Intelligence briefing reveals late leader’s concerns 

Sources familiar with the intelligence assessment said US agencies gathered information suggesting that the elder Khamenei had misgivings about his son becoming Iran’s next supreme leader.

According to individuals familiar with the briefing, the late leader was reportedly wary of Mojtaba Khamenei assuming power because he was perceived as lacking the qualifications required for the role.

The intelligence assessment circulated among senior US officials indicated that Ali Khamenei believed his son was viewed by some as “not very bright” and therefore not suited to lead the Islamic Republic.

Sources said the information also suggested that the elder Khamenei was aware of issues in his son’s personal life that could complicate his succession.

The intelligence findings were reportedly shared with Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior members of the administration.

Spokespeople for the Central Intelligence Agency, the White House and the vice president declined to comment on the reports.  

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was selected as Iran’s supreme leader by the country’s council of religious clerics after the death of his father.

Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli missile strike targeting his compound in Tehran roughly eight days before the leadership decision, during the opening phase of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The younger Khamenei had long served as a close aide to his father and was believed to have remained part of his inner circle before the leadership transition. 

Trump questions intel as US offers reward on Iranian officials

According to people familiar with discussions within the administration, Trump has privately told associates he is unsure whether intelligence reports about Mojtaba Khamenei and his background will significantly affect the situation in Iran.

Trump has also reportedly suggested that Iran may effectively be leaderless at the moment and speculated that the younger Khamenei could have been killed during recent strikes.

Officials in Washington have said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may currently hold substantial influence over decision-making in Tehran.

Such a shift could represent a change from the theocratic leadership structure that has defined Iran’s political system since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.  

As the conflict continues, the US government has also announced a financial incentive aimed at gathering information about senior Iranian figures.

Authorities said they are offering up to $10 million for information on the whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei and nine other Iranian officials.