Mojtaba Khamenei Must be Neutralized

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is emerging as a significant figure within the Iranian regime. His increasing influence in the country's political, military, and religious affairs presents a direct threat to Israel's national security and regional stability. To counteract this evolving danger, Israel must prioritize strategies to neutralize Mojtaba's influence, undermining the leadership of Iran's hardline regime. Doing so could weaken Iran’s power structure and limit its capacity to support militant activities against Israel.

The Rise of Mojtaba Khamenei

Mojtaba Khamenei's ascent to prominence within Iran is not solely based on nepotism; he has maneuvered to consolidate power in critical institutions, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary forces. Unlike his father, whose authority stemmed from decades of religious leadership, Mojtaba has built a network of loyalists within the IRGC, which plays a central role in shaping Iran's military and geopolitical ambitions. By cultivating these connections, he stands poised to assume a more dominant role, potentially even succeeding his father as the Supreme Leader.

Given his influence, neutralizing Mojtaba could strike a major blow to the heart of Iran’s hardline infrastructure. His leadership could represent a continuation or even intensification of Iran's policies aimed at expanding influence in the Middle East, arming proxies such as Hezbollah, and pursuing a nuclear weapons program. As such, Israel's security strategy should focus on disrupting his rise and the network that supports him.

The Threat to Israeli Security

Iran’s enduring hostility towards Israel has been manifested in support for groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and other militant organizations that pose direct threats to Israeli civilians and military personnel. As a key figure within the Iranian regime, Mojtaba has played a role in shaping policies that promote regional destabilization and support for anti-Israel proxies.

Under Mojtaba's potential future leadership, Iran’s policies are likely to become more hardline, further emboldening its proxy forces and accelerating efforts to develop nuclear capabilities. In this scenario, Iran’s leadership would be even more committed to regional expansion and confrontation with Israel, escalating the threat level. Neutralizing Mojtaba before he ascends to the supreme leadership could therefore disrupt the continuity of Iran's strategy, creating an opportunity to reduce Iran's influence and the military pressure on Israel.

Undermining the Power Structure

Targeting Mojtaba Khamenei should not solely focus on physical elimination; rather, it can be more effective to undermine his influence by exposing corruption, infighting, and political rivalries within the Iranian regime. Many within Iran have grown disillusioned with the ruling elite, especially due to the country’s economic difficulties and the regime's repressive policies. By supporting internal factions or opposition groups that challenge Mojtaba’s rise, Israel could exacerbate divisions within the regime, thereby weakening the Iranian leadership.

Moreover, Israel could capitalize on Mojtaba's relative lack of religious credentials compared to his father. Unlike Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds the religious title of Marja', Mojtaba does not have the same level of clerical authority. Highlighting this deficiency could fuel dissatisfaction among the Iranian populace and the clerical establishment, reducing his chances of consolidating power in the event of his father’s death.