New Claims About Hassan Khomeini

One year after reports and rumors surfaced about the influential role of ayatollah Khamenei’s son in the election coup and the possibility that he would succeed his father as the supreme leader of Iran, one prominent right-wing figure claimed to reveal ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson’s ambition to become the next supreme leader of the Islamic republic. Hossein Fadaie, who is the secretary-general of the Isargaran (Sacrificers) Society and an influential figure in the Islamic republic’s intelligence circles, made the claims during the sixteenth annual gathering of the Heyate Razmandegan Islam (Islamic Combatants Association). According to the news website akharin, Fadaie claimed, “seyed Hassan Khomeini said I would accept a post that the president has to bow to.”

The Isargaran Society’s secretary-general claimed that seyed Hassan Khomeini uttered the remark in response to activists who tried to “secure his candidacy in the tenth presidential election.”

This is the first time that a prominent figure in the ruling faction has claimed that seyed Hassan Khomeini was solicited to run for the presidency last year. No official source has yet confirmed or denied the claim.

Fadaie, who is regarded to be a very influential figure in the Islamic republic’s security and intelligence apparatus, said in explaining his claim, “About a year and a half ago, when some people were preparing to enter the presidential race, a group of people visited seyed Hassan Khomeini to convince him to run.”

He added, “Some of the proponents of seyed Hassan’s candidacy may have been messers Hashemi and Khatami.” Fadaie did not explain why he believed that Hashemi and Khatami “may have been” supporting seyed Hassan Khomeini’s candidacy.

Fadaie, who is also a representative in the eighth Majlis, made the remarks only two weeks after the controversial June 4 memorial in honor of ayatollah Khomeini.  Government supporters disrupted seyed Hassan Khomeini’s speech in that event by chanting slogans against him and leaders of the green movement.

The unprecedented event led to widespread reactions in Iran’s news and political circles. Government supporters approved the move as a natural protest from ayatollah Khomeini’s supporters against his son’s affinity with the so-called “conspiracy leaders.” On the other hand, supporters and leaders of the green movement, several lawmakers and even many prominent clerics and grand ayatollahs condemned the event.  

Some analysts believe that the Isargaran Society secretary-general’s remarks about seyed Hassan Khoemini’s attempts to succeed the supreme leader not only signal the regime’s approval of future acts against ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson, but also reveal more about behind-the-scenes motivations for insulting seyed Hassan Khomeini on June 4.

Several news websites supporting the coup, such as rajanews, Iran and javan have recently been referring to seyed Hassan Khomeini as seyed Hassan Mostafavi.