Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes targeting strategic locations across the country. Khamenei’s killing prompted the country’s leadership to urgently select a new supreme leader, CNBC reported.
Khamenei, the 86-year-old supreme leader, ruled Tehran for 36 years before he was killed in strikes on his compound in Tehran. His death has sent shockwaves across the Shia community around the world, with Iran observing a 40-day period of mourning.
Khamenei’s Death: How Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Appointed?
According to a CNBC report, Iran’s supreme leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts under the Iranian constitution. It is an 88-member spiritual body that is elected by the general public every eight years. All candidates for parliament must first be approved by the Guardian Council, which strictly controls who is allowed to run.
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Once a seat becomes vacant, the assembly shall proceed to act and elect a successor by a simple majority vote. In the meantime, however, an interim three-member leadership council is created to take over the duties of the supreme leader until a replacement or successor is finally named.
It is worth noting that although the leadership council’s authority during the transition is only temporary, the Assembly of Experts is the only body with the constitutional authority to select the country’s next supreme leader.
Key candidates for the position of Iran’s supreme leader
Here is a list of some of the key contenders for the position of Iran’s next supreme leader:
1. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei
Chief Justice from 2021, Mohseni-Ejei heads Iran’s judiciary and plays a key role in shaping the country’s legal framework. Prior to serving as Chief Justice, Mohseni-Ejei was Attorney General from 2009 to 2014 and was also First Deputy Speaker and Judiciary Spokesperson from 2014 to 2021. He has also held senior security posts over the years, including serving as Minister of Intelligence from 2005 to 2009.
2. Hassan Khomeini
Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, could act as a bridge between the revolutionary system and reform-minded constituencies, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Council on Foreign Relations has suggested that supporting someone like Hassan Khomeini could help protect the basic fabric of the Islamic Republic, reduce Iran’s international isolation and respond to growing public discontent at home.
3. Alireza Arafi
Arafi is a senior cleric and influential figure in the Islamic Republic who has risen through the clerical establishment with key appointments including director of Iranian seminaries, leader of Friday prayers in Qom and a member of the Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts, the body constitutionally tasked with selecting the supreme leader.
Arafi has emerged as an influential figure within Iran’s clerical establishment, primarily through his involvement in overseeing religious seminaries and participating in the vetting of political candidates.
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What’s next for Iran?
According to media reports, under Article 111 of the Iranian constitution, if the supreme leader dies or is unable to perform his duties, an interim leadership council is immediately formed to exercise his powers until a successor is chosen.
On March 1, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced in a televised address that an interim leadership council had been formed and had already begun its activities. In addition to President Pezeshkian, the interim leadership council also includes Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei and Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi.
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Foreign Minister Abbas Araghčí said that a decision on the country’s next supreme leader is expected in the coming days.
While Iran’s constitution does not set a deadline for the Assembly of Experts to appoint a new leader, it states that the Assembly must act “as soon as possible.”
Iran vows to avenge Khamenei’s death
Hours after Iranian media confirmed Khamenei’s death, President Pezeshkian vowed that the country would avenge his death, calling it a “declaration of war against Muslims.”
Read also | Iran vows revenge after Khamenei’s killing, calling it a war against Muslims
Pezeshkian said in a statement that it is the right and duty of the Islamic Republic to avenge Khamenei’s killing. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime,” he added.
