• Ayatollah Khamenei's death has triggered a complex leadership transition in Iran.
• The interim leadership council consists of President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and cleric Alireza Arafi.
• Potential successors include Mojtaba Khamenei and Hassan Khomeini, among others.
• The Assembly of Experts is tasked with selecting a new supreme leader within a short timeframe.
• Khamenei had previously designated potential candidates to facilitate a smooth transition.

The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has opened a critical chapter in the country's political landscape, intensifying focus on the succession process. His passing, confirmed following US and Israeli strikes, has left Iran without a clear, designated successor, which has placed the country in a precarious position. In the interim, an 88-member clerical panel known as the Assembly of Experts will appoint a new leader, while a temporary leadership council consisting of Masoud Pezeshkian, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Alireza Arafi has been established to manage governance duties during this transition, according to SCMP, India Times, and AA.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the interim leadership council had begun functioning immediately following Khamenei's death. In a video statement, he affirmed that the group would “continue with all our strength along the path set by Imam Khamenei,” underscoring the urgency and importance of maintaining stability during the transition. Furthermore, Iran’s foreign minister indicated that the appointment of a new supreme leader might occur within a matter of days, further highlighting the rapid pace of developments, as reported by India Times and India Times.

The potential candidates for the next supreme leader are varied, with insiders indicating that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of the Islamic Revolution's founding leader, could emerge as key figures in the succession battle. Mojtaba has been viewed as a significant contender, although Khamenei himself was averse to establishing a hereditary leadership. Alongside these candidates, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and Alireza Arafi have been named among those who may step into significant roles, enhancing their influence in the interim council, according to AA, India Times, and SCMP.

Khamenei had previously prepared for a power transition by identifying potential successors prior to his death, intending to ensure continuity within Iran’s political framework. His choices included Mohseni Ejei, Ali Asghar Hejazi, and Hassan Khomeini. The official continuation of governance is carefully orchestrated under Iran’s laws, allowing state institutions to function steady while the Assembly of Experts moves towards electing a new supreme authority, as reported by AA and India Times.