Media reports, citing the London-based Iran International channel, indicate that Iran's Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei , son of current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the next Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to sources described as well-informed, this decision was made in complete secrecy and under direct and intense pressure from commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps , suggesting a significant shift in the balance of power within Tehran.

Behind the scenes of the secret selection and the role of the Revolutionary Guard

Sources reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen during a secret meeting of the Assembly of Experts, amid unprecedented security measures described as "at the highest possible level." This news confirms earlier speculation in Iranian media that the succession issue would be resolved this week. It is believed that the Revolutionary Guard, which now controls key sectors of the country's economy and security apparatus, strongly pushed for this choice to ensure the continuation of the regime's policies and protect its strategic interests in the post-Ali Khamenei era.

Who is Mojtaba Khamenei? A path from obscurity to the top

Mojtaba Khamenei is known as the most influential figure in the "Supreme Leader's household," despite his limited media appearances. His biography reveals a blend of military and religious background; he joined the ranks of the Revolutionary Guard and participated in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), which established his close ties with the current military leadership. In the late 1990s, he pursued religious studies at the Qom seminary , further solidifying his religious legitimacy.

His name became prominent following the 2005 presidential elections, and then in the events of 2009, when the reformist opposition accused him of playing a pivotal role in managing the security file and suppressing protests, as well as expanding the influence of the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence apparatus to become a rival to the official Ministry of Intelligence.

Historical context and the succession crisis

If officially confirmed, this event would mark a historic turning point in the course of the 1979 Iranian Revolution against the Shah's hereditary rule. The transfer of power from father to son is generating considerable debate about the concept of "republic" within the regime and recalls the 1989 transfer of power from Khomeini to Khamenei, which was also a carefully orchestrated political process. However, the difference today lies in the dominant role of the military establishment, represented by the Revolutionary Guard, which appears to be seeking to install a leader who can guarantee the loyalty of the security apparatus.

Expected local and regional repercussions

The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to solidify the Iranian regime's hardline policies, both domestically regarding social and political freedoms, and internationally in managing regional and nuclear issues. Observers believe this choice reflects the desire of the regime's "hard core" to preempt any surprises that might arise from a power vacuum, especially given the geopolitical tensions plaguing the Middle East.

In a high-quality security operation reflecting the vigilance of the military forces in securing the Yemeni coasts, the Southern Giants Forces announced on Wednesday that they had successfully seized a smuggling boat coming from Iranian territory, which was on its way to deliver an unauthorized shipment to areas under the control of the Houthi group.

Details of the security operation and the crew's confessions

A source within the security campaign of the Southern Giants Forces reported that maritime patrol units, following a precise intelligence operation, intercepted a boat exceeding 20 meters in length. The inspection revealed a large shipment containing 3,000 cartons of smuggled and unauthorized medicines, carefully concealed.

The source confirmed to Okaz newspaper that the forces arrested the boat's crew of five sailors, all of whom hail from Hodeidah Governorate. During initial investigations, the sailors confessed that they had departed directly from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, with their final destination being the port of Salif, north of Hodeidah, which the Houthi group uses as a major maritime gateway.

The Iranian smuggling route: a recurring pattern

This operation comes amid a long series of smuggling attempts in Yemeni territorial waters. The shipping route originating from Iranian ports, specifically Bandar Abbas, is one of the most prominent routes identified internationally and locally for transporting contraband to the Houthis. Previous UN reports indicate that this route is not only used for smuggling unlicensed goods, but has also been used in the past for smuggling fuel, weapons, and drone components, thus violating international resolutions and Security Council resolutions related to the arms embargo on armed groups.

The Southern Giants Forces and the Joint Forces on the West Coast play a pivotal role in securing the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the southern Red Sea, areas of high strategic sensitivity to global trade, making the seizure of such boats an achievement that transcends the local dimension to the regional and international dimension in protecting waterways.

Health and economic risks

Beyond the security implications, smuggled drug shipments pose serious health risks to citizens in Houthi-controlled areas. Medicines arriving via smuggling boats often lack even the most basic transport and storage standards (such as refrigeration) and are frequently of unknown origin or expired, transforming them into deadly poisons instead of treatments. Drug smuggling is also a source of illicit funding for Houthi-linked smuggling networks, enabling them to bolster their parallel economy beyond government oversight.

Presidential praise for security vigilance

In an official statement regarding the incident, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council member Abdulrahman al-Mahrami (Abu Zara'a) praised this remarkable security achievement. Al-Mahrami commended the efforts of the security campaign forces and the Southern Giants Brigades in protecting the coast, emphasizing the need to enhance combat and security readiness to combat all forms of smuggling and prevent the arrival of any supplies that could be used by terrorist groups to destabilize the region.

The seized items were confiscated and the accused were detained to complete the legal procedures, in preparation for referring them to the competent authorities, in a step that confirms the determination of the legitimate government and the forces loyal to it to dry up the sources of smuggling in all its forms.