Exit of Supreme Leader: The 3 Iranian Elders in Charge of Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Authorities in Tehran have announced a three-member interim leadership council to run the government after the killing of Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-United States strikes.

Tehran pledged to avenge the killing on Saturday of Khamenei, who had been in power for nearly four decades. 

Iran's IRGC has since targeted Israeli and US assets located across Gulf countries with Ballistic missiles in retaliatory strikes.

While United States President Donald Trump has said he wants a change in Iran’s government, the religious leaders of Iran moved on Sunday to start the process of choosing Khamenei’s successor. So the change of leadership in Tehran will not in anyway change the governance principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Trump on Sunday said he is ready to speak with the new Iranian leaders.

What is the interim leadership council?

Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution authorises a temporary leadership council to assume the supreme leader’s duties until a successor is elected.

That council will consist of President Masoud Pezeshkian; the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei; and a member of the Guardian Council, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.


So who are these three figures who will temporarily run Iran as it reels from war?


Ayatollah Alireza Arafi

Arafi has been a member of the Guardian Council since 2019. Its members are appointed by the supreme leader. It is an Islamic legal authority that vets Iran’s laws and policies to make sure they conform to Islamic principles. It approves election candidates, has veto power over legislation passed by parliament and supervises elections.

Arafi also serves as the deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for overseeing the selection of the supreme leader. He leads Friday prayers in Qom, Iran’s most important religious centre, and heads the seminary system, overseeing education for religious leaders nationwide.

Masoud Pezeshkian

Pezeshkian, 71, is a reformist politician and heart surgeon who served in the army during the Iran-Iraq War. He was elected president in the 2024 elections.

He previously served as health minister under President Mohammad Khatami and, after 2005, as a member of parliament representing the northwestern city of Tabriz.

Pezeshkian ran unsuccessfully for president earlier but in 2024 won on a reform-oriented platform and has since navigated economic pressures and regional tensions.

He earlier campaigned on economic stabilisation, easing social restrictions and pursuing constructive engagement abroad while affirming loyalty to the Islamic Republic’s constitutional framework.

Reacting to Khamenei’s assassination, Pezeshkian said in a statement that Iran now considers “it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime”.

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei

Mohseni-Ejei is a senior religious leader and has headed the judiciary since Khamenei appointed him to the post in July 2021.

He previously served as intelligence minister from 2005 to 2009 and later as prosecutor-general and first deputy chief justice. He is regarded as a hardline figure aligned with the conservative wing of the government.

In January, when the collapsing rial triggered protests across Iran, Mohseni-Ejei promised “no leniency” towards what he called “rioters”.

Mohseni-Ejei said the US and Israel “openly and explicitly supported the unrest” in the country after Trump called on Iranians to take to the streets.

After Khamenei’s killing, Trump again addressed the Iranian public on Saturday, calling for them to topple the government. “This will probably be your only chance for generations,” he said on Saturday after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began.

Iran Leaders: We've had two decades to study defeats of the U.S. military to our immediate east and west. We've incorporated lessons accordingly.

Bombings in our capital have no impact on our ability to conduct war. Decentralized Mosaic Defense enables us to decide when—and how—war will end.

IRGC also announced that US THAAD radar in UAE have been destroyed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announces precision strikes on THAAD radar site at Al-Ruwais.

IRGC also stated that they attacked a US naval fuel-support ship 700 km off Chabahar with drones and missiles.

Iran's IRGC on Saturday said the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was targeted by four cruise missiles. Following the strike, the carrier left its mission area and proceeded southeast toward the Indian Ocean.

Reza Pahlavi is the Iran’s new leader: Russian and Emirati foreign ministers call for Iran ceasefire now

 According to the online sources, Reza Pahlavi is the new Iranian leader according to the speculations and if the US succeeded in the attempted regime change agenda.

But the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said in a recorded video shared by IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency that Temporary Leadership Council in Iran began working to replace Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, .

Iranian President says Terhan will keep following Leader Ali Khamenei, and the armed forces will hit enemy bases with force and drive them to despair.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the war on Iran in a phone call, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, stressing the urgent need to end the fighting.

Key statements from the Russian Foreign Ministry:

🔸 Lavrov said aggression by the US and Israel against Iran was unacceptable.

🔸 Both ministers stressed the need for the immediate ceasefire.

🔸 They noted the destabilizing nature of the latest war in the Middle East by the US and Israel.

With the rising retaliations from Tehran, Iranian airstrikes killed at least eight Israelis after Tehran launched its latest missile barrage, with some of the strikes landing just miles from Jerusalem. Fix News reported.

The missiles hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh.

Iran’s military has been carrying out counterattacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East following a joint U.S.–Israeli strike that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

European union is also calling for the de-escalation,.

Ursula Von Der leyen said in a telephone conversations with the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince.

According to her: "I just spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

As our strategic partner, we will work closely with you to de-escalate and safeguard regional stability."

"You can count on our full support in these turbulent times."

"The European Union–Gulf Cooperation Council partnership will only get stronger in the period ahead"

There have been reports of US reaching out to Iran for a possible ceasefire which Tehran has rejected.

According to Jerusalem post, US President Donald Trump said Operation Epic Fury against Iran is "ahead of schedule," calling the regime "one of the most violent in history," while noting progress towards the end of the strikes

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as an unprecedented and dangerous act, stressing that Tehran would defend itself without any restrictions.

He said Iran has no limit to the self defense of the country.

Iran has issues warning that US soldiers must lay down their weapons and withdraw from the hotels and facilities they are occupying across Gulf countries after evacuating their military bases, or they will be targeted and removed. 

The Iran's message is explicit: any remaining American military presence in the region will be treated as an active target in the event of continued escalation.

However, the US President Donald Trump' claims that Iran has reached out to him and that he too is ready to talk with them.

"They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them," President Trump said." "They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long."

On Sunday Tehran vowed revenge and total showdown of retaliations  after the killing of its supreme leader and traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by a surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment.

Iran appointments Ahmad Vahidi, a former defense and interior minister, as new commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

 

Iran appointed Ahmad Vahidi, a former defense and interior minister, as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday, state media reported on Sunday.

Vahidi is under US sanctions for his role in Iran’s suppression of protests, including the use of lethal force by security services during the 2022 nationwide protests. 

The announcement followed the Saturday killing of several senior Iranian military commanders, including Mohammad Pakpour, the previous head of the Guards.

As Tehran continues it's defensive war against the United States and Israel, Iranian Parliamentary Speaker has reaffirmed that Iran has prepared for “all scenarios,” including the way forward, after the death of supreme leader Ali Khamenei following #US and Israeli strikes.

However, Iranian reports confirmed that Another extensive wave of attacks has begun in the Iran's capital Tehran targeting key installations. IRGC Headquarters have been attacked.

Exit Of Iranian Supreme Leader: 3 individuals are now in charge of Iran's Affairs

Under Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, if the Supreme Leader dies, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for selecting the new Leader. Until then, authority transfers to a provisional leadership council — typically consisting of the President, the Head of the Judiciary, and a jurist from the Guardian Council.

This transition phase is critical, as it determines both internal power balance and regional stability

 The Iranian Constitution states:

The Assembly of Experts (consisting of 88 experts) is the body that selects the new Leader, but until that time, power transfers to the "Provisional Leadership," which is a committee of 3 individuals: the President of the Republic + the Head of the Judiciary + a jurist from the Guardian Council. This committee assumes certain duties until the new Leader is selected

Iranian state TV reportedly announces the death of Ali Khamenei.

US and Israeli intelligence sources earlier confirmed the assassination of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran along up to 10 other Iranian leaders.

A moment the Islamic Republic likely never anticipated. On Iran in the aftermath of Khamenei's death  

 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the judiciary chief and a jurist from the Guardian Council will temporarily assume leadership duties following reports of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death, Iranian media said on Sunday. 

-The Iranian government declared a 40-day mourning period after reports of Khamenei's death, according to Fars News Agency.  

 Mohammad Pakpour, IRGC chief commander, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Saturday, Iranian media IRNA reported.

Previously before his death, Imam Khamenei addressing the families of the martyrs said:

"Let me say to you openly: whenever I think that this war, these martyrdoms, and these arenas of honor and blood might come to an end, and that we might remain, only to one day die in an ordinary way, perhaps in an accident, as so many do, or from an illness, by God, the mere thought of it places such pressure upon my heart.

To be deprived of an arena that is a contest for eternal and divine honor, a race toward Paradise, and then simply to die in the usual way; this is very difficult.

Would that our death might be like the death of your children, this is a prayer that rises from the depths of our hearts.

And I do not believe there is anyone who truly understands the reality of such a death and does not long for it."

US intelligence assesses that Iran's Supreme Leader and another 5 to 10 top leaders have been killed

United States intelligence assesses that Iran's Supreme Leader and another 5 to 10 top leaders have been killed, according to Fox News report.


Israeli media reports that Iran's Supreme Leader was in an underground fortified location and was killed along with dozens of his closest aides.


Israeli army released a list of the Iranian officials who were killed with Khamenei.

- Mohammad Pakpour: Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces.

- Ali Shamkhani: Senior Security Adviser to the Supreme Leader

- Mohammad Shirazi: Head of the Military Office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

- Aziz Nasirzadeh: Minister of Defense.

- Salah Esadi: Intelligence Chief of the “Khatam al-Anbiya” Headquarters.

- Reza Mozaffari-Nia: Former Deputy Defense Minister (Head of SPND).

- Hossein Jabal Ameli: Current Deputy Defense Minister (Head of SPND).

While there has not been any official confirmation from Tehran.  Source says the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is insisting on the swift appointment of the next leader of the Islamic Republic after Ali Khamenei's death, sources with knowledge of the matter told Iran International.

Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, on Saturday evening said at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

According to the Fox news report, a senior Israeli security official says 40 Iranian security and regime figures were killed in Israel’s opening strike on Tehran.

The U.S. government agrees with the Israeli assessment that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, a senior U.S. defense official tells reporters.

United States President Donald Trump told newsmen, “we feel certain” that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead. “We feel that is a correct story.”

Fox News also quoted a US official as saying the United States believes Khamenei and five to 10 top Iranian leaders were killed in an initial Israeli strike.

According to Iran military monitor, Imam Khamenei said "Iran has never fired the first shot in any confrontation, not even against the United States. However, it has delivered its retaliatory blows with force."

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said lasting peace can only come through peaceful dialogue.

I condemn the military escalation in the Middle East today.

The strikes by the US & Israel against Iran & the subsequent attacks by Iran undermine international security.

These actions carry the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world.

Lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means, including genuine dialogue and negotiations.

The @UN Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace & security.

 Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that "everything must be done to prevent a further escalation."

Guterres stated that he was 'not in a position' to confirm Ali Khamenei's death, and that he deeply regretted the 'squandered' opportunity for diplomacy.

Official Message From The IRGC. 

The third and fourth waves have begun with more advanced missiles than the operation true promise 3. 

The IRGC Public issued a statement stating: The third and fourth waves of the Operation True promise 4 have been launched continuously against the extensive military and security targets of the United States and the Zionist regime, with more advanced missiles than the operation true promise 3 and in a more precise and ferocious manner.

The Israeli army naval base in Haifa Port, the regime's warship anchorage in Haifa, the Ramat David air base, the regime's Ministry of War in the Hakeryat area, the Beit Shams military-industrial complex, and the Ishtod military industries center are among the targets during the third and fourth waves.

Russian Foreign Ministry calls US and Israeli attack on Iran an 'IRRESPONSIBLE MOVE'

 The Foreign Ministry of Russia Federation has called US and Israeli attack on Iran an 'IRRESPONSIBLE MOVE'

The ministry described the US and Israeli bombing of Iran as a premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression

According to the statement, the responsibility for the negative consequences of this man-made crisis lies entirely with the US and Israel. The motives behind the US and Israeli attacks on Iran have nothing to do with the preservation of non-proliferation

"The US and Israel cannot fail to understand that their actions in escalating the situation in the Middle East push the region towards acquiring new weapons."

Moscow expresses concern over the serial nature of destabilizing US strikes on the international legal foundations of the global order.

Russia demands the immediate return of the situation around Iran to a diplomatic resolution.

Moscow is ready to assist in finding peaceful solutions in the Middle East based on international law and mutual respect. The statement said.

U.S, Israeli joint military strikes against Iran have been met with immediate retaliatory strikes on US military bases in the middle east including the headquarters in Bahrain.

Source: Sputnik