Iran to form interim council to oversee transition after Khamenei’s killing

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by Maziar MotamediMarch 1, 2026 at 10:48 AM

AI Summary

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Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack on March 1, 2026, Iran has formed a three-member transitional council to govern the country. The council consists of Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei. Arafi's appointment was confirmed by the Expediency Council. According to the Iranian Constitution, this council will oversee state duties until the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member panel, selects a new supreme leader. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and security chief Ali Larijani are also expected to play significant roles during the transition. The commander-in-chief of the IRGC was also killed in the same attack.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Expediency Council 50% Ali Larijani 50% Guardian Council 50% Masoud Pezeshkian 60% Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei 60% Assembly of Experts ×260% Israel ×270% Ayatollah Alireza Arafi ×270% United States ×270% Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ×270% Ali Khamenei ×490% Iran ×790%

Keywords

leadership transition 90% iran 90% interim council 80% supreme leader 70% ayatollah ali khamenei 70% assembly of experts 60% iranian constitution 60% us-israeli attack 50% islamic revolutionary guard corps 50%