Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, an Iranian politician, cleric, and eldest son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected as the next Supreme Leader of Iran under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Iran International.

Elected by a body of 88 clerics

The selection of the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is explicitly provided for in the Constitution of Iran and falls under the authority of the Assembly of Experts, the same body that elevated him to leadership in 1989. According to the Constitution, the successor to the Supreme Leader must be chosen by the Assembly of Experts (Assembly of Leadership Experts). This is a body of 88 clerics who – formally – are elected by the people every eight years. In practice, however, only clerics considered absolutely loyal to the Islamic Republic are allowed to stand as candidates.

As soon as possible

For this reason, the majority of the current members of the Assembly are characterized by hardline positions, similar to those of Khamenei. The Constitution stipulates that these clerics must select a new Supreme Leader as soon as possible. However, the immediate convening and gathering of all Assembly members may prove difficult, as the country is under military attack from the United States and Israel. Security concerns and operational constraints may delay the process during a period of heightened tension and uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the Constitution provides that the duties of the Supreme Leader are temporarily assumed by a three-member council composed of the country’s president, the head of the judiciary, and a cleric who is a member of the powerful Guardian Council. The activation of this procedure is considered critical for maintaining the institutional continuity of the state until a new Supreme Leader is selected.