Iran is preparing to elect a new supreme leader within a matter of days following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that the process of succession is already in motion, with a transition council established to oversee the leadership until a new leader is elected. President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that the council has begun its work while condemning Khamenei’s assassination as a heinous crime.
The selection of Khamenei’s successor will follow the guidelines set out in Iran’s constitution, with an assembly of 88 clerics holding the authority to appoint a new supreme leader by a simple majority vote. This process was last activated in 1989 when Khamenei himself ascended to the position following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The killing of Khamenei has been denounced as an unprecedented violation of international law by Iranian officials. Araghchi warned that the conflict has now become even more dangerous and complex as a result. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a strong warning to the perpetrators, stating that Iran would deliver devastating blows in retaliation.
Despite the targeted strikes, Araghchi remains steadfast in asserting that Iran has not been defeated and will continue to resist any attempts to force surrender. He emphasized that the ongoing conflict is a result of aggression from the United States and Israel, and urged regional neighbors not to pressure Iran into halting its defensive actions.
The tensions have escalated into wider strikes across the Gulf, prompting Araghchi to urge caution among Iranian armed forces in selecting targets. He emphasized that the conflict was imposed on Iran by external forces and called for understanding from the international community.
