01.03.2026 17:02
Following Khamenei's death, the Leadership Council temporarily took over while the Assembly of Experts initiated the process to determine the new Supreme Leader; Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei, temporary council member Alireza Arafi, Assembly of Experts member Mohammad Mahdi Mirbagheri, experienced cleric Sadiq Larijani, Mohsen Araki, and Ruhollah Khomeini's grandson Hassan Khomeini are among the potential candidates.
The Iranian press reported that the current administration is quickly trying to determine the name of the successor to the religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the US and Israel, in order to convey a message of stability and continuity. All eyes in the country are turned to the Assembly of Experts, which will carry out the constitutional process.
According to the Iranian Constitution, the Supreme Leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts, which consists of 88 members of the clergy. Until a new leader is determined, the powers are assumed by the Leadership Council. According to ISNA, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was appointed as a jurist member of the Leadership Council on Sunday. The other members of the council are President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei. This trio will exercise the powers of the highest office in the country until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader.
WILL BE THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES
The Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in Iran and determines the direction of foreign policy. Tehran's foreign policy has long been shaped around a conflict axis with the US and Israel.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Saturday that a "rare opportunity" has arisen to overthrow the spiritual leadership, calling on the Iranian people. However, experts state that Khamenei's death will not automatically end the influence of the entrenched spiritual leadership or the elite Revolutionary Guards over society in Iran.
WHICH NAMES ARE IN THE BACKROOMS?
The official list of candidates has not yet been announced. However, some names that stand out in both Iranian backrooms and international analyses are noteworthy:
Mojtaba Khamenei: The son of Ali Khamenei. He is considered to have strong support within the regime due to his conservative stance and closeness to the security bureaucracy.
Alireza Arafi: He holds a key position in the process due to his membership in the Interim Leadership Council. His weight in the religious hierarchy makes him one of the natural candidates.
Mohammad Mahdi Mirbagheri: A member of the Assembly of Experts. He is mentioned as one of the hardline conservative figures in long-term leadership discussions.
Sadiq Larijani: An experienced figure in Iranian politics. Due to his previous high-level positions, he is considered a "balance candidate."
Mohsen Araki: One of the names mentioned in religious and political circles. His religious authority aspect is particularly prominent.
Hassan Khomeini: The grandson of revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini. He has symbolic weight due to his lineage, but he is a controversial figure due to his political stance.
SEARCH FOR BALANCE WITHIN THE REGIME
It is noted that the preference of the Assembly of Experts will be shaped not only by religious qualifications but also by the support of the Revolutionary Guards and the security bureaucracy. The power balances within the regime will be decisive in the process.
Who the new leader will be in Iran will directly affect not only the domestic political structure but also the power balances in the Middle East. The swift completion of the election is seen as an important part of Tehran's strategy to convey a message of "stability."