In a rapidly unfolding development watched closely by the world, a member of Assembly of Experts on Saturday that the council would hold an emergency and decisive meeting within a single day to select a new Supreme Leader for the Islamic Republic, according to local media reports. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment in modern Iranian history, amid intense domestic and international anticipation regarding the future of the political landscape in Tehran.
Fars News Agency quoted Hossein Mozaffari, a member of the 88-member council of clerics, as confirming the swiftness of the proceedings, saying, “God willing, this session will be held within the next 24 hours.” This brief but decisive statement comes a week after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack, an event that has cast a long shadow over the entire region.
The historical and constitutional role of the Leadership Experts Council
The Assembly of Experts is the primary body in the Iranian political system, constitutionally empowered to appoint the Supreme Leader, oversee his performance, and remove him if he loses the qualifications for leadership. Established under the constitution adopted after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this assembly comprises jurists elected by direct popular vote for eight-year terms. The current situation evokes the historical memory of 1989, when the Assembly convened to choose a successor to the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, in a smooth transfer of power—a scenario Tehran seeks to replicate today to ensure the regime's stability.
Article 107 of the Iranian Constitution states that the task of appointing the leader falls to experts who examine all qualified jurists, to choose from among them the one most knowledgeable about jurisprudential, political and social rulings and issues, and who possesses the general acceptance and leadership ability necessary to manage the affairs of the country in light of the current challenges.
Strategic importance and effects of the transitional phase
The importance of choosing a new Supreme Leader extends far beyond Iran's domestic affairs, encompassing broad regional and international repercussions. The Supreme Leader in Iran holds ultimate authority over the country's highest policies and directly oversees the Revolutionary Guard, the military, state media, and the judiciary. Therefore, the character of the next leader will determine the course of Iranian foreign policy, the future of international agreements, and the nature of relations with neighboring countries and major powers during this period of heightened tension.
Amid these rapidly unfolding events, Mozaffari urged Iranian citizens to act responsibly and “refrain from any speculation or spreading of rumors on this matter,” stressing the need to wait for official results, especially since the council has not yet fully convened, indicating the sensitivity of the expected deliberations within the council to choose the most suitable person to lead the country at this critical stage.
