Iran Forms Interim Council After Supreme Leader’s Death, Larijani Takes Charge
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran moved swiftly Sunday to establish an interim leadership council following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Saturday in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced the formation of the council in a televised address, vowing a strong response to those responsible for Khamenei’s death.
The interim council will be comprised of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and a jurist from the Guardian Council, Larijani said. He indicated the council would be fully operational “as soon as possible, and we are working to form it as early as today.”
Larijani, a veteran politician and former advisor to Khamenei, also accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to destabilize Iran and issued a stern warning to any internal “secessionist groups” contemplating unrest. “The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors,” he stated, according to state media.
The death of Khamenei, who had held power for nearly 37 years, initiates a succession process outlined in the Iranian Constitution. Article 111 stipulates the formation of a transitional council to manage state affairs until a new supreme leader is selected by the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The constitution mandates that the Assembly of Experts act “as soon as possible” to choose a successor.
Larijani previously served as speaker of the Iranian parliament and was a key strategist during nuclear negotiations with world powers, including the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. His emergence as a central figure in the leadership transition suggests a pragmatic approach to navigating the current crisis.
The formation of the interim council and the subsequent selection of a new supreme leader will be closely watched internationally, as Iran’s political landscape undergoes a significant shift. The country’s future direction and its relationships with global powers hang in the balance.
