A senior Iranian cleric involved in the vote to choose a new supreme leader indicated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei\u2019s son \u200bMojtaba would be his successor, although a formal announcement was awaited, after Israel threatened whoever was chosen.<\/p>\n
The comment by Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, follows growing expectations Mojtaba Khamenei, \u200ca hardline cleric like his father, would be named as supreme leader, a position giving him the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n
If confirmed, the move could draw the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump who had said he should have a role in the choice of the next leader, a demand Iran has roundly rejected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe name of Khamenei will continue,\u201d Eshkevari, one of the 88 members of the assembly, said in a video published in Iranian media, as Israel expanded strikes on Iran to include fuel depots and Bahrain blamed Iran \u200bfor a strike on a desalination plant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vote has been cast and will be announced soon.\u201d Eshkevari said, without providing further details.<\/p>\n
Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military \u200boffice of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike.<\/p>\n
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