Frontrunners emerge as Iranian officials discuss possible successors to Khamenei: report

Multiple frontrunners are emerging to succeed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the -year-old has gone into hiding during Israel and the United States joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic a record reported A three-man committee appointed by Khamenei to identify his successor has ramped up its activity in up-to-date days following repeated waves of airstrikes targeting Iran s nuclear effort Reuters communicated citing five sources with knowledge of the discussions Two names rising to the top of the list are Mojtaba Khamenei the ayatollah s -year-old son who was sanctioned by the U S Treasury Department in and Hassan Khomeini the -year-old grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini the architect of the Islamic Revolution in Iran according to the sources Mojtaba Khamenei the second son of the Supreme Leader is designated for representing the Supreme Leader in an official ceiling despite never being elected or appointed to a governing body position aside from work in the office of his father the Treasury Department declared in while sanctioning him THE MISSING MULLAH IRAN'S 'SUPREME LEADER' A NO-SHOW FOR NEGOTIATIONS THEN HID AS US POUNDED NUKE SITES The Supreme Leader has delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojtaba Khamenei who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force IRGC-QF and also the Basij Resistance Force Basij to advance his father s destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives the department added at the time Mojtaba Khamenei at this moment teaches theology at a religious seminary in Qom and is closely aligned with his father s hardline views Reuters published citing sources Khomeini who is more of a reformist and is allied with a faction that is in favor of easing social and political restrictions in Iran garners respect because of his lineage according to Reuters In Khomeini warned of a predicament of rising popular dissatisfaction among Iranians due to poverty Reuters also stated HERE S WHAT A POST-AYATOLLAH IRAN COULD LOOK LIKE IF WAR WITH ISRAEL LEADS TO REGIME S FALL The sources reportedly reported that no decision has been made yet more candidates could emerge and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who is regularly kept up to date on the talks would have the final say Khamenei is sheltering right now in a bunker and has suspended all electronic communications with his commanders according to the New York Times He is relaying orders only through a trusted aide to protect his location amid assassination concerns Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace and Beth Bailey contributed to this summary