Mojtaba Khamenei Survives and Funeral Ceremonies Begin.. Experts Council Nears Decision on Succession

Iranian sources confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei survived the U.S.-Israeli airstrike that targeted his father's headquarters, the late Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, on February 28, 2026, which resulted in his death along with several prominent military and political figures.
According to circulating information, Mojtaba was inside the headquarters at the time of the attack, while estimates within the ruling institution suggest he is considered one of the leading candidates to succeed his father as Supreme Leader.

Experts Council on the Brink of Decision

In this context, the Experts Council, the body constitutionally authorized to choose the Supreme Leader, announced that it is “on the verge of making a decision” regarding the appointment of the new leader, according to Iranian state television.
The coming hours and days are viewed as critical in shaping the political landscape in Iran, amid unprecedented internal pressures and external challenges.

Three-Day Funeral Ceremonies

In related news, funeral ceremonies for the late leader began in Tehran and will last for three days. The head of the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council, Mohammad Hossein Mousa Pour, announced that Imam Khomeini Mosque will receive mourners around the clock during the mourning period.
The funeral ceremonies come amid charged atmospheres, with ongoing military operations and exchanges of strikes between Iran and Israel.

Direct Israeli Threat

In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant escalated his rhetoric, threatening to assassinate any figure who assumes the position of Supreme Leader if they continue what he described as “policies that threaten Israel, the United States, and the free world.”
This threat followed an Israeli strike targeting the Experts Council office in Qom, while Iranian authorities confirmed no injuries occurred as a result of the attack, indicating that the building had been evacuated in advance.

Mutual Escalation and Expansion of Confrontation

Israel and the United States launched a wide-ranging military operation against Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of prominent leaders, including Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Pakpour and Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, according to Tehran.
Iran responded by carrying out strikes targeting sites within Israel, as well as American facilities in several countries in the region.
As the succession battle in Tehran coincides with the ongoing military confrontation, Iran appears to be at a historic crossroads, where internal political transition intersects with open regional escalation with multiple possibilities.