Khamenei’s Nephew Urges Toppling Regime in Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
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Khamenei’s Nephew Urges Toppling Regime in Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets a crowd of his supporters on January 9. Mahmoud Moradkhani in the framework (AFP/LinkedIn)

Mahmoud Moradkhani, the nephew of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called for the “swift toppling of the regime in Iran,” but also criticized some opposition parties as “ineffective.”

During a press interview in Paris, which was attended by Asharq Al-Awsat, Moradkhani strongly criticized Khamenei, saying that he is “devoid of religious and civil legitimacy and is incompetent in religious sciences.”

Moradkhani did not hesitate to describe Khamenei as “the butcher of the people” and the “most despised” figure among Iranians.

Iran’s regime is established on religious and ideological beliefs, according to Moradkhani. This makes it very difficult for reform to prevail.

“There is no hope for reforming the regime from within. Therefore, there is no alternative to overthrowing it,” explained Moradkhani.

Moreover, Khamenei wants to make it clear to everyone that violence “is the source of the system.”

“Khamenei cannot take a single step back, so his plan is to resort to permanent repression,” clarified Moradkhani, adding that this has “left people with no alternative to defending themselves but resistance.”

In parallel with his criticism of the regime, Moradkhani described the Iranian opposition as “ineffective at home and on the ground.”

Moradkhani believed that the problem lies in the absence of a vision regarding “the stage that could follow the fall of the regime.”

The “Revolution” that Iran has known for four months now, according to Moradkhani, “did not produce figures with a clear program and distinct personalities.”

As for who would succeed Khamenei, Moradkhani believes that there is no replacement to the current leader from outside the circle close to him and surrounding him.

It is highly likely that the successor to Khamenei will be his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who “enjoys the support of the Revolutionary Guards,” revealed Moradkhani.

He emphasized that the Revolutionary Guards is an active and influential force in choosing Khamenei’s successor.

Moradkhani’s sister, Farideh Moradkhani, was recently arrested after she recorded a video describing the authorities led by her uncle as a “murderous and child-killing regime.”

Moradkhani’s mother and Khamenei’s sister, Badri Hosseini Khamenei, sent a letter in late December declaring that she had washed her hands of her brother, whom she described as a “tyrant.”



Kremlin Says US Position Ruling Out NATO Membership for Ukraine Gives Satisfaction

Cars drive in front of Moscow's Kremlin along Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, 21 March 2025. (EPA)
Cars drive in front of Moscow's Kremlin along Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, 21 March 2025. (EPA)
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Kremlin Says US Position Ruling Out NATO Membership for Ukraine Gives Satisfaction

Cars drive in front of Moscow's Kremlin along Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, 21 March 2025. (EPA)
Cars drive in front of Moscow's Kremlin along Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, 21 March 2025. (EPA)

The Kremlin said on Monday that the position of US President Donald Trump's administration on ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine gave Moscow satisfaction, but declined to comment on Trump's hopes for a deal this week.
US envoy General Keith Kellogg said on Sunday that NATO membership was "off the table" for Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly said previous US support for Ukraine's bid to join NATO was a cause of the war, Reuters said.
"We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is excluded," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters." Of course, this is something that causes our satisfaction and coincides with our position."
Peskov said that Ukrainian membership of the US-led alliance would "pose a threat to the national interests of the Russian Federation. And, in fact, this is one of the root causes of this conflict."
Putin has repeatedly said that Russia would be willing to end the war if Ukraine officially dropped its NATO ambitions and withdrew its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia.
Reuters reported in November that
Putin was ready to negotiate a deal with Trump, but would refuse to make major territorial concessions and would insist Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.
Trump said on Sunday he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Asked about those remarks, Peskov said: "I don't want to make any comments right now, especially about the time frame."
"President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results," Peskov said.
He refused to comment directly on a Bloomberg report that the United States is prepared to recognise Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement.
"Work on finding a peaceful settlement cannot take place, and should not take place, in public," Peskov said. "It should take place in an absolutely discrete mode."