Ali Khamenei: Who can be Iran's new religious leader?

Ali Khamenei: Who can be Iran's new religious leader?

 Rumors circulating about the health of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have sparked controversy and speculation as to what will happen if his illness worsens or he dies.

 Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 81, is a powerful figure in one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, and his successor is a major issue for Iran, the region and the world.

 How is the leader of Iran elected?

 The incumbent (Ayatollah Khamenei's second since the Iranian Revolution in 1979) is elected by the 88-member Council of Scholars.

 Its members are elected every eight years by Iranians, but each candidate must be approved by the Guardian Council.  The Iranian leader is also elected by the 12-member parliament.

 Iran's leader has a strong voice in both Iranian parliaments.  Nearly 30 years ago, Ali Khamenei ensured that conservatives were elected in parliament who would follow his choice of successor.

 Council of Ulema elects Iranian leader and removes him

 Once elected, he will continue to hold the post of Iranian leader until his death.

 According to the Iranian constitution, the leader of Iran must be the ayatollah, the leader of the Shiites in the country.  But when Ali Khamenei was elected he was not an ayatollah, so the law was changed to allow him to hold the post.

 Therefore, it is possible that the law will be changed, depending on the political situation during the election of Iran's new leader.

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 Why is the issue so important?

 The Iranian leader has absolute power in Iran.  It has the final say on any important issue, and it sets the country's policy and its foreign policy.

 Iran is the largest Shiite country in the world and Ali Khamenei's leadership has sought to expand its military presence in the Middle East.

 Iran's leader is the pinnacle of Iran's political system

 His death will not only change the course of history in the region, but it could also re-create another climate in the world.

 Conflicts between Iran, the United States and Israel, for example - have made Ayatollah Khamenei even more hostile - leading to years of threats.

 However, the circumstances of his successor must have followed his course.

 Who can be the leader of Iran?

 Divisiveness in Iranian politics will have a profound effect on who will be the new leader, but no one strong will be able to use force to avoid conflict.

 Lacking support especially like that of his predecessor, Ali Khamenei continued to make an impact by building his loyal subjects, many of whom were from the Revolutionary Guards.

 The military is likely to try to suppress any candidate it deems unpopular before electing a new Iranian leader.

 Although, there are rumors that there is a list of names that no one knows - and no one claims to know who the names are.

 Some sources say Ali Khamenei prefers his son Mojtaba to succeed him or the country's chief justice Ebrahim Raisi.

 Raisi's successor, Sadeq Larijani, and incumbent Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are thought to have the idea of ​​becoming Iran's new leader.

 Who is Mojtaba Khamenei?

 The 51-year-old Iranian leader was born in the cleric city of Mashhad and, like his father, is also a teacher.

 Mojtaba's attention was drawn to the crackdown on protesters following the disputed 2009 presidential election. He is thought to have led the crackdown on protesters.

 Although Ali Khamenei was not a king and could not appoint his son, Mojtaba was strong among his father's close associates, including the office of the Iranian leader.

 If he has the support of the Revolutionary Guards, they will be able to influence his election.

 Who is Ibrahim Raisi?

 The 60-year-old was also born in Mashhad.

 He is widely expected to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei.

 He has never denied rumors of his ambition to become Iran's leader and all his slogans suggest he is building himself for the position.

 He has held several positions in the judiciary and is vice president of the Ulema Council.

 However, Raisi's human rights record, in particular his role in the execution of prisoners in 1988, did not win public support.

 But despite his defeat in the 2017 presidential election, the Iranian leader elected him head of the country's judiciary.

 Since taking office, he has launched what he calls a "fight against corruption."  Like Ali Khamenei, Raisi is skeptical of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and is close to the Revolutionary Guards.