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Iran After Khamenei: Who Takes Power?

Published March 1, 2026, 09:15
Iran After Khamenei: Who Takes Power?

Following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, the process of leadership transition begins immediately. Iran is activating the provisions of the Constitution for the temporary exercise of duties until the election of a new leader. Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, announced the formation of a temporary leadership council, which will consist of the President of the Republic, Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the Judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and a cleric-jurist from the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. The temporary council will exercise duties until the Assembly of Experts proceeds with the election of a new supreme leader. The Assembly, consisting of elected clerics, has the constitutional authority to select and remove the supreme leader. At the same time, the son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, argued that with the death of Khamenei, the Islamic Republic has "reached its end" and called for a "transition" with the drafting of a new Constitution, a referendum, and free elections under international supervision.