Iran Forms Interim Leadership Council After Supreme Leader’s Death

Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, an interim leadership council has been established, Iranian state TV reported Sunday. The formation of this council marks a significant moment for the Islamic Republic, initiating a transition period as the country determines its next supreme leader.

Composition of the Interim Council

The interim leadership council is comprised of three key figures: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, who has been selected as the representative of the Guardian Council. According to the Islamic Republic’s constitution, the Guardian Council consists of 12 members – six Islamic jurists (“faghihs”) and six Muslim experts in various areas of law.

Confirmation and Initial Actions

Pezeshkian, who was reportedly targeted in the joint U.S.-Israel attack that led to Khamenei’s death, confirmed on Sunday that the interim leadership council has begun its work. In a televised message, Pezeshkian stated that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic are “powerfully crushing the enemy’s bases.”

Reactions to Khamenei’s Death

Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, expressed the nation’s grief over Khamenei’s passing, stating, “The passing of a great personality has wounded the hearts of all of us.” He also warned, “Americans should know that by stabbing the hearts of the Iranian nation, their hearts will be stabbed,” and asserted that the actions taken against Iranian leadership have ignited public anger.

Constitutional Framework and Succession Process

A spokesperson for the Guardian Council affirmed that the country’s constitution provides for this situation, and the leadership council will govern until a permanent supreme leader is appointed. The law mandates that the leadership determination be expedited, given the current state of conflict.

Details of the Attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that 40 Iranian commanders were killed in Saturday’s joint U.S.-Israeli operation, which President Donald Trump described as a “massive and ongoing operation” against Iran and its regional proxies. The IDF specifically stated that the Israeli Air Force eliminated seven members of Iran’s top security leadership who were gathered in Tehran. Among those killed was Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of the armed forces.

Mousavi succeeded Mohammad Bagheri, the previous chief of staff, who was killed in June 2025 during “Operation Rising Lion.” The IDF indicated that a majority of the highest-ranking senior military officials of the Iranian security leadership were also eliminated in the strikes.