“With the support of God, this session will take place within the next 24 hours,” said Hossein Mozafari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, as quoted by Fars. He urged the public to “refrain from any speculation and spreading of rumors about this.”
Iran officially launched a succession process on Sunday to designate a replacement for Ali Khamenei, who has led the country since 1989, aiming to do so “as soon as possible.” The move comes as regional instability remains a significant concern. The modern leader will be elected by the Assembly of Experts, a body comprised of 88 members.
Israel has already declared that the next Supreme Leader will be considered “a target,” and, according to local media reports, struck buildings belonging to the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday and in Qom, a holy city south of the Iranian capital, on Tuesday. These strikes signal a potential escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Until a new leader is appointed, President Massoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeï, and a religious figure affiliated with both the Assembly of Experts and the Council of Guardians of the Constitution, Alireza Arafi, will collectively assume interim leadership responsibilities.
