Iran has announced the appointment of a new supreme leader to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli-American airstrikes. The Assembly of Experts, the religious body responsible for this appointment, indicated that a candidate had been approved by a majority of its members, without revealing his identity at this time.
“The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been appointed,” said Mohsen Heydari, representative of Khuzestan province in the body, as quoted by the Isna news agency. Another member, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, confirmed in a video relayed by the Fars news agency that a “firm opinion” had been reached within the assembly.
Pending the official announcement of the new leader's name, power is provisionally held by a triumvirate composed of President Massoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and religious dignitary Alireza Arafi.
Israel has already warned that the future supreme leader would be considered a "target." In this context, several buildings linked to the Assembly of Experts have been attacked in recent days in Tehran and Qom, a holy city located south of the Iranian capital, according to local media.
