Iran has revealed its strategy for the period following the assassination of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a significant Israeli-US attack. The plan entails establishing an interim leadership council comprising the president, the judiciary chief, and a jurist from the Guardian Council, which oversees legislation and screens electoral candidates. Additionally, Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, will play a crucial role in the transition process.
Key individuals overseeing the transition include:
President Masoud Pezeshkian, aged 71, is part of the three-member interim council steering the country until a new supreme leader is elected. A reformist and former heart surgeon, Pezeshkian assumed office in June 2024 following the death of his predecessor in a helicopter accident. Known for his composed demeanor, he has guided the government through challenging times, such as last year’s conflict with Israel and widespread protests over economic hardships. Pezeshkian condemned Khamenei’s assassination as an act of war against Muslims and pledged a just response.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, approximately 68 years old, also serves on the leadership council. Born in Ejeh village in Isfahan province, Ejei has a longstanding history within Iran’s judiciary and security sectors, appointed as head of the judiciary in 2021 by Khamenei. With educational background in Islamic studies and international law, Ejei has the title of hojatoleslam, one rank below ayatollah. Previously sanctioned by the US for human rights violations during the 2009 protests, Ejei denounced Khamenei’s killing as a heinous act, vowing Iran’s retaliation.
The jurist Alireza Arafi, aged 65, leads Iran’s center for managing Shiite seminaries and holds a position as the second vice president of the Assembly of Experts, responsible for supervising the supreme leader’s appointment. Arafi, a member of the Guardian Council, relocated to Qom in 1971 to study Islamic sciences and was imprisoned at a young age for opposing the Shah. Despite being less prominent than his council counterparts, Arafi voiced determination in seeking justice for the fallen, affirming Iran’s revolutionary path and commitment to avenging the nation.
As the head of Iran’s top security entity, the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, aged 68, has been a trusted figure within Iran’s military, media, and legislative realms. Born in Najaf, Iraq, to a revered Shiite cleric with ties to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Larijani’s family has wielded influence within Iran’s political landscape for generations. Larijani outlined Iran’s post-Khamenei transition tactics and boldly proclaimed intentions to retaliate against Israel and the US with unparalleled force, echoing the combative rhetoric of US President Donald Trump.