Iran has constituted an interim leadership council following the death of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s political history.
State authorities announced that the temporary body will assume the powers and responsibilities of the supreme leader pending the selection of a permanent successor in line with Iran’s constitution.
The development comes amid heightened regional tensions and uncertainty over the direction of the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Under constitutional provisions, a three-member council steps in when the office of the supreme leader becomes vacant.
The interim body comprises senior cleric Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei.
Together, they are expected to oversee state affairs until a new supreme leader is formally chosen.
Iran’s constitution assigns the responsibility of electing a new supreme leader to the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical institution empowered to appoint and, if necessary, dismiss the country’s highest authority.
The body is expected to convene in the coming days to deliberate on succession.
Arafi, who represents the religious establishment within the interim council, is a prominent figure within Iran’s clerical hierarchy and a member of the Guardian Council.
His inclusion underscores the central role of the religious leadership in the transition process.
The formation of the interim council signals the beginning of a sensitive political transition in Iran, with domestic stability and regional relations closely watched by the international community.
Officials have urged calm and continuity, stressing that state institutions remain fully functional during the transition period.
