The Iran Supreme Leader succession process has formally begun, with authorities forming an interim leadership council to assume constitutional duties.
Under Iran’s constitution, members of the Assembly of Experts convene in Tehran to select a new Supreme Leader, known as the Velayat-e Faqih. The selection may take place in a single session or span multiple meetings, depending on deliberations.
Reports indicate the decision could take one day or several days. If a candidate has already been chosen, an official announcement may follow shortly after internal confirmation.
Iran Supreme Leader Succession Process
Until a new Velayat-e Faqih is officially declared, constitutional powers are exercised by a temporary council. According to the constitution, this body governs during the transition period.
The council consists of the sitting president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council selected by the Expediency Council. Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are among those stepping in to temporarily assume leadership duties.
While the interim council manages state affairs, the 88-member Assembly of Experts must select a new Supreme Leader as soon as possible. The Assembly is composed entirely of Shiite clerics elected every eight years, with candidacies approved by the Guardian Council.
Read: Khamenei Death Confirmed by State Media After US-Israel Strikes
The Guardian Council serves as Iran’s constitutional watchdog and oversees election eligibility, including for the Assembly of Experts.
Deliberations regarding succession typically occur behind closed doors. As a result, identifying leading contenders can be difficult. Previously, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi was considered a potential successor before his death in 2024. Other figures, including cleric Mojtaba Khamenei, have also been discussed in public discourse.
The outcome of the selection process will shape Iran’s political direction and institutional continuity in the coming years.
