President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, and cleric Ali Reza Arefi have been appointed to a temporary leadership council. This body is tasked with managing state affairs until a new Supreme Leader is elected. The formation of this council follows Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, which outlines the transfer of power in the event of a vacancy in the Supreme Leader’s position.
According to the constitution, the Experts Assembly is responsible for electing a new leader within three months. However, it remains unclear when or how the assembly will convene given ongoing military strikes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not publicly announced a preferred successor, indicating that the decision will likely rest with long-standing figures within the regime who possess significant influence.
Several names have been floated as potential candidates. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, has occasionally been considered a potential successor, though his fate remains uncertain following reports of his wife’s death in an airstrike. Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder, is viewed as a strong contender due to his ties to the reformist movement and his potential to ease tensions with the West.
In contrast, Arefi and Mohseni-Eje’i are seen as less likely choices, potentially continuing the hardline approach. Mohseni-Eje’i was previously responsible for suppressing the 2009 protests. Hardline figures such as Ahmad Alavi and Mohsen Araki are also mentioned as possibilities. Former President Hassan Rouhani is considered unlikely due to a lack of trust among hardliners, despite being a senior cleric. While theoretically possible for the Experts Assembly to select an unknown cleric, the internal turmoil caused by recent attacks makes it difficult for any new figure to gain support.
Previous reports indicated that Iranian planning circles had discussed scenarios regarding the leadership if Khamenei and top officials were killed. These discussions reportedly explored a “Venezuelan model,” with names like Ali Larijani and former President Hassan Rouhani appearing on lists of potential interim figures. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf confirmed that Iran is prepared for all scenarios, including the death of the Supreme Leader. He stated that the country has anticipated these moments and will hold the U.S. and Israel accountable for crossing red lines.
