Topic: Khamenei

Following the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and advisor Ali Larijani in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has emerged as a primary figure in the Iranian regime. A former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Mayor of Tehran, Ghalibaf is reportedly viewed by some in the Trump administration as a potential future partner. Despite his public anti-U.S. rhetoric, reports suggest he has maintained back-channel contact with U.S. officials during the war.

The New York Post reported on U.S. intelligence claims that the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is gay. The report suggests his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, feared his son's suitability to rule for this reason. Intelligence sources allege Mojtaba had a long-term relationship with a childhood tutor and made overtures to male caregivers while hospitalized.

President Trump discusses the military success in Iran but expresses concern over the lack of a viable successor, noting that many potential leaders have been killed. He mentions that the "radical lunatics" currently in power are being eliminated, but he is wary of a "worst-case scenario" where a new leader is equally hostile. The hosts discuss the tactical shift where Iranian leaders avoid technology following the "pager attacks," only to be targeted during in-person meetings.

Bloomberg reports reveal that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, holds extensive luxury property across Europe through a shadowy businessman named Ali Ansari. While Trump has mentioned him as a potential successor, many Iranian-Americans and UK-based dissidents oppose any member of the Khamenei family. The younger Khamenei is a member of the IRGC and was previously passed over for succession by his father to avoid the appearance of hereditary rule.

A historical profile of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei details his rise from the 1979 Revolution to succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini. The report covers the 2009 Green Revolution, the 2015 nuclear deal under Barack Obama, and the 2018 withdrawal from the agreement by Donald Trump. Recent events mentioned include the 2024 Israeli offensive against Hezbollah and the 2025 fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

Reports from independent streamers like 2CTousi TV claim that major Iranian cities, including Mashhad and Karaj, have fallen to anti-Islamic revolutionaries. There are unconfirmed reports of IRGC defections and plans for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to flee to Moscow. While Russian media reportedly mentioned an imminent regime collapse, Western mainstream outlets have largely ignored the story, leading to questions about the authenticity of the uprising.

Protests erupted across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad, driven by a 72% increase in food prices and a collapsing currency. While some reports attempt to frame the unrest as a Gen Z-led movement, evidence suggests shopkeepers and market stall holders initiated the strikes. Demonstrators have been heard chanting slogans calling for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Khamenei and the return of the Pahlavi family.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismisses the impact of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the reports exaggerated. Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe maintains that key sites were destroyed despite the nuclear program not being fully eliminated. A legal summary provided by a former JAG officer concludes that the strikes did not constitute a war crime under the Geneva Convention.

A theory is proposed that the recent strikes and assassinations of Iranian officials might be a coordinated effort between the U.S., Israel, and the Ayatollah to purge hardline military elements. This "theater" would serve to rearrange Iranian power structures and remove Chinese influence from the region. The hosts suggest that the Iranian leadership and Western intelligence may be working toward shared goals behind the scenes.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the Foreign Minister died in a helicopter crash in a remote mountainous region, an event officially attributed to bad weather. However, alternative theories suggest internal sabotage by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to clear the path for Supreme Leader Khamenei's son to succeed him. Reports indicate the VIP helicopter was swapped for an older model without a functioning transponder at the last minute.

The hosts speculate that the attack on Salman Rushdie may be leveraged by political factions opposed to the Iran nuclear deal. They note that Iran's current leadership reaffirmed the fatwa as recently as 2019 on social media, suggesting the threat never truly dissipated.

Ebrahim Raisi has won the Iranian presidential election in a "convincing fashion" after the Guardian Council disqualified his most serious rivals. Raisi, a hardline cleric and judge, is a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While the president manages the economy, the Supreme Leader remains the ultimate "CEO" of Iranian policy, particularly regarding the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran launched missile strikes against US bases in Iraq on Wednesday night following the Soleimani assassination. President Donald Trump and Ayatollah Khamenei engaged in symbolic social media warfare by tweeting their respective national flags. Initial reports suggest the strikes may have been a face-saving maneuver with minimal actual damage intended, as early warnings were reportedly provided.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that negotiations with the U.S. are only possible if sanctions are lifted and the nuclear accord is honored. Meanwhile, John Bolton blames Iran for attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, promising a "strong response."

Protests in Tehran show a divide between hardliners denouncing the US and citizens frustrated with their own government's failure to provide basic services. Additionally, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used social media to troll President Trump by posting a photo of himself reading Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury."

Spontaneous protests erupted in Tehran and other Iranian cities, initially triggered by a 40% overnight increase in the price of eggs and poultry. While the Iranian government blames foreign interference and social media coordination, the unrest is linked to broader economic desperation and rising inflation. Comparisons are drawn to the bread riots that preceded the Arab Spring.

Senator Ted Cruz attacked the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, claiming it would make the U.S. the "world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism." The debate also highlighted juvenile infighting among candidates, with Carly Fiorina reportedly demanding her turn to speak in the background. Meanwhile, the Democratic primary sees Bernie Sanders gaining traction as a self-described socialist, challenging Hillary Clinton's presumed path to the nomination.

Secretary of State John Kerry testifies before the Senate regarding the Iran nuclear deal. He argues that the deal is a global agreement approved by the UN Security Council and that walking away would be a "fantasy." Kerry also warns that a unilateral military strike by Israel would be a "huge mistake" and could lead to an all-out war and the "annihilation" of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a speech claiming that ISIS and Al-Qaeda are supported by the U.S. and Israel to destabilize the region. He compared the brutality of ISIS to that of the U.S. federal police against American citizens. Khamenei's rhetoric aligns with declassified documents suggesting the U.S. previously considered the rise of an "Islamic State" as a strategic tool against the Syrian government.

Ayatollah Khamenei has set a "red line" in nuclear negotiations, refusing to allow international inspectors to interview Iranian scientists or access military sites. Meanwhile, ISIS has seized the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, and Iran has diverted a humanitarian ship to Djibouti to avoid a confrontation with Saudi Arabia near Yemen. The hosts argue these events are part of a "rebelization" strategy to destabilize the region and secure oil interests.