TEL AVIV — The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a chilling warning on Sunday, March 8, 2026, vowing to eliminate any potential successor to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a direct message posted in Farsi on social media, the Israeli military cautioned that its operations would extend to anyone involved in the leadership transition, including those participating in selection meetings.
“We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor,” the IDF stated, according to reports from The Jerusalem Post. The military further escalated its rhetoric by declaring all participants of the upcoming successor selection meeting as “legitimate targets,” warning that it would not hesitate to strike such gatherings.
This development follows reports from the Tehran-based Mehr News Agency (MNA) indicating that Iran’s Assembly of Experts has reached a “majority consensus” on a successor to Khamenei, who was killed in recent US-Israeli strikes. While Assembly member Mirbaqeri confirmed the consensus, he noted that “some obstacles” remain before the transition is finalized. The leadership council is currently governing the country, with officials admitting that while the process is moving forward, it is significantly hampered by the ongoing state of war.
Amidst the power vacuum, the Iranian Consulate General in Mumbai has officially denied Israeli media reports claiming that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, has already been chosen. “Reports circulating regarding potential candidates… have no official source and are officially denied,” the consulate stated on X. Meanwhile, Tehran is preparing for a three-day mourning period starting tonight at the Imam Khomeini prayer ground, as the region remains on high alert following Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against American and Israeli assets.
