Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the group responsible for electing the country’s next Supreme Leader, was meeting virtually on Tuesday evening, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. It’s thought the Assembly of Experts’ heaquarters in the city of Qom had been earlier been hit during US-Israeli airstrikes, although Fars claimed no session was underway at the building at the time. Reports suggest Mojtaba has been elected, although there remains no confirmation.

Iran International reports Mojtaba has been chosen as the next Supreme Leader amid pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), citing sources.

Israeli officials are also expecting Mojtaba to step into his father’s shoes, according to Israeli outlet Ynetnews.

It reported senior Israeli officials believe Mojtaba, a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, could be named as Iran’s next leader in the coming hours.

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

It comes after Donald Trump said “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the US-Israel military campaign is completed.

However, he said “most of the people we had in mind are dead”.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the US President said: “Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports. So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody.”

Mojtaba reportedly has strong ties with the IRGC and is thought to have considerable influence.

He is not a high-ranking cleric and has never held government office.

It’s thought a father-to-son transfer of Supreme Leader could spark anger as this is traditionally frowned upon in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment.

Following Ali Khamenei’s death, his powers have been temporarily transferred to a three-person council.

His body was found under a pile of rubble after his Tehran compound was destroyed by missiles on Saturday.