Within the day it seems that the Iranian regime will announce the new . As everything shows, the Assembly of the Wise is expected to meet with the main topic of choosing the Supreme Leader, who will be the one to succeed him. The country seems to be at a historical turning point after the assassination of the Iraqi leader.
It is recalled that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lost his life by American and Israeli fire and since then no one else has taken over.
Who is the preeminent Ayatollah and why?
According to international news networks, the Assembly of Wise Men appears to have already chosen , the second son of the late Ali Khamenei, as the new supreme leader of Iran. If this scenario is confirmed, it will be the first time since the 1979 Revolution that power is transferred from father to son, a fact that has already started to cause various reactions. The opposing views stem from the fact that Tehran has traditionally criticized hereditary monarchies.
At the same time, there is a strong rumor that the Revolutionary Guards exerted intense pressure on the Assembly of the Wise to ensure the election of Mojtaba, as they believe that he is the only one who could guarantee the continuity of the regime in a period of war and instability such as this one.
Still, of course, this scenario has not been confirmed, which is why there are other candidates. Among them are:
- Ebrahim Raishi, Iran’s former president and cleric, is considered a key successor.
- Sadek Larijani is the former head of justice and a member of a powerful political family.
- Mohammad Medi Mirbagheri, the representative of the ultra-hardline wing, known for his extreme anti-Western positions.
- Alireza Arafi is a senior cleric with influence in religious institutions.
So far there has been no public confirmation that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had named a successor. The process of choosing the next Supreme Leader is expected to be a critical moment for the stability of the political system of the Islamic Republic.
How is the Supreme Leader elected in Iran?
In Iran’s political system, the institution of the Supreme Leader forms the core of political power and is the highest authority of the state. This position was created after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and established a theocratic political system based on the Shia Islamic theory of the “commission of the legal theologian” (Velayat-e Faqih), formulated by Ruhollah Khomeini.
The Assembly of the Wise consists of 88 Shia clerics, who are elected by the people for eight-year terms. In the event of the death or removal of the Supreme Leader, as happened with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Assembly meets and chooses his successor.
The basic conditions for someone to become the new leader:
- to be a supreme Shia religious scholar (ayatullah)
- to have religious prestige and political experience
- to be able to practice the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih (guardianship of Islamic jurisprudence), which forms the basis of the Iranian political system.
The Assembly may choose:
- a single person as Supreme Leader
- or leadership council, if there is no commonly accepted candidate.
The Assembly examines the theological, political and personal criteria of the candidates, such as:
- deep knowledge of Islamic law,
- political experience,
- revolutionary legalization,
- leadership ability.
In 1989, after the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Assembly chose Ali Khamenei as his successor, even though he did not initially have the highest religious standing among the Ayatollahs. This choice shows that political criteria can be just as important as theological ones.
Why is the election critical and what happens until the new supreme leader is elected?
The selection of a new leader is considered one of the most defining political decisions for Iran, as the Supreme Leader appoints the leadership of the armed forces, a rather hot-button issue at this time. In addition, the Ayatollah influences foreign policy, and has the final say in strategic decisions of the state.
This photo collection from archives shows prominent Iranian political and religious figures, top row, from left, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Massoud Pezhezkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Aragi, Khamenei’s public policy adviser Ali Larijani, Supreme Court President Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ezehi, Assembly chief of Experts Mohammad-Ali Movakhedi Kermani and Secretary of the Prisons Council Ahmad Jannati, bottom row, from left, Khamenei’s chief of staff Mohammad Golpaighani, Khamenei’s adviser on international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati, Khamenei’s adviser on foreign policy Kamal Harazi, first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Tehran’s Friday prayer imam Ahmad Khatami and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s son.
Until official finalization and announcement, authority is exercised by an Interim Leadership Council, which consists of:
- The President of the country (Massoud Pezeskian).
- The head of the judiciary (Golam-Hossein Mohseni-Ecei).
- A member of the Guardian Council (Ayatollah Alireza Arafi is often mentioned).
