Iran’s Supreme Leader Succession Process and Potential Candidates Explained

In Brief

Iran’s Assembly of Experts is responsible for appointing the next supreme leader amid ongoing uncertainty.

Key Facts

• The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member panel, appoints and can remove Iran’s supreme leader.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the second leader of Iran’s Islamic Republic, founded in 1979.
• Succession discussions have intensified following recent events and retaliatory actions by Iran.
• The Assembly of Experts has never removed a supreme leader since its establishment.
• Hassan Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson, is considered a potential candidate and is viewed as a relative moderate.

What Happened

Following recent attacks and Iran’s subsequent retaliation, attention has turned to the process for selecting the country’s next supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked with this decision, but the current situation has raised questions about how succession will proceed.

Why It Matters

The selection of Iran’s next supreme leader will impact the country’s domestic and international policies. The process is significant due to the supreme leader’s broad authority and the current geopolitical tensions, with potential candidates like Hassan Khomeini drawing interest from various factions. Reports note that wartime conditions may affect the Assembly of Experts’ ability to convene and select a leader, but details are not confirmed.